Wanda to Uganda: Medical Mission!

Did you know that in East Africa there is less than one ophthalmologist for every million people, whereas in the United States, there is approximately one for every 10 thousand people? It is estimated that nearly one percent of the adult population is legally blind and most of this blindness is curable with cataract surgery. 

I have had the pleasure of assisting Dr. Bonner recently while he has been kind enough to see some of my employer’s patients while he is out of the office healing from his own eye surgery.  For several years, Dr. Bonner has been taking teams to do surgery on patients who would otherwise never be able to be freed from there blindness. Additionally, he takes teams to train local surgeons, nurses and technicians in how to perform modern techniques of cataract surgery. This year he has asked me to help him on the team.

While I am there, I will be doing the same type of work that I do at my current job – preparing patients to be seen by the doctor for pre-operative and post-operative care and taking measurements on the patient’s eyes so the surgeon can know what lens to put into the patient’s eyes after cataract surgery. The main difference is that it will be done in Africa and I am told we will be doing large numbers of surgeries. Additionally, we will be sharing with the patients how they can come to know Jesus as their savior.

While I am excited about going and willing to work hard while I am there, I will need help from others like you to pay for the trip. I am hoping to raise $3300. Most of this will cover airplane tickets, food, housing and in country transportation for me. Some of it will be used to transport, feed and house patients. This is necessary because we will be taking care of patients that live in rural villages a long way from the hospital that is equipped to do eye surgery. Will you be willing to join me in helping pay for this trip? 

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