CLEARER vision and new opportunities have come to 62 people from some of Western’s most remote communities following eye surgery aboard the MV YWAM PNG in the Bamu River this month.
Goibi Makau had been blind for seven years. The last time she saw her grandson’s face, he was 13 years old.
After two 30-minute operations, her sight was restored to near-perfect vision.
When her eye patch was removed, she smiled and said how eager she was to see the young man he had become.
For many others like Goibi, the procedure meant much more than improved eyesight; it meant reconnecting with family, returning to daily activities, and regaining their independence.
Goibi was thrilled to rediscover the smiling face of her 20-year-old grandson again.
For another man from Bamio, failing eyesight had prevented him from paddling a canoe for four years.
Just one day after surgery, he was seen paddling alongside his grandson, delighted to be returning to the everyday activities that are an important part of life along the river.
Cataracts remain the leading cause of preventable blindness in the nation.
Left untreated, cataracts can progressively impair vision and eventually lead to blindness.
Yet with a relatively simple surgical procedure, sight can often be restored.
Papua New Guinean ophthalmologist Dr Waimbe Wahamu, based in Mt Hagen, joined the outreach alongside volunteer ophthalmologists from Norway and New Zealand.
Wahamu has participated in multiple ophthalmic outreaches with YWAM medical ships over the years and says the experience has played an important role in his professional development.
“Being part of the YWAM team over the years has been pivotal in my career,” he said.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside surgeons from other nations who have strengthened my skills and experience.
“I first came on board as a registrar, and these outreaches have helped me grow both professionally and personally.”
Wahamu said he was encouraged to see specialist eye services reaching some of the nation’s most remote communities.
“It is a joy to see these services reaching remote communities in the nation,” he said.
In addition to ophthalmic services, teams from YWAM worked alongside staff from the Western health authority and Delta Fly health services to provide integrated primary healthcare, including tuberculosis diagnostics, routine immunisations, antenatal care, and family planning.
The MV YWAM PNG is currently in Port Moresby for the next phase of life extension work and resupply before returning to Western in the first week of August to continue delivering healthcare services to remote communities alongside local health workers.
