A recent free cataract surgery campaign was held at the Centre médical avec antenne chirurgicale (CMA) in Boromo, Burkina Faso, providing medical care to over 300 patients. The campaign, organized with the support of the NGO CBM and the Ministry of Health, aimed to improve access to ophthalmological care in the Boromo health district. The initiative allowed patients to receive free consultations and surgical interventions, offering them a chance to regain their sight and autonomy.
The campaign's impact was significant for patients like Mariam, a 25-year-old woman who suffered a cataract after an eye injury. She underwent surgery and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to regain her sight and continue her daily activities. Similarly, an 80-year-old woman, Tamini, benefited from the campaign and is now hopeful about regaining her vision after years of struggling with visual difficulties. Her daily life had become challenging, but the surgery offers her a chance to improve her quality of life.
According to Ousséini Badini, CBM's country director, the campaign was a follow-up to a previous initiative held in Boromo in 2025. The goal was to provide medical care to patients who were identified during the previous campaign but could not receive surgical interventions due to limited resources. CBM mobilized resources to cover the costs of consultations and surgical interventions for up to 350 patients. The project, Keneyeli_2, is being implemented in the Bankui-Sourou health region.
The campaign's success was made possible by a phase of ophthalmological consultations conducted in the ten communes of the Boromo health district. These consultations identified patients with cataracts requiring surgical interventions. The selected patients were then referred to the CMA in Boromo for treatment. Gustave Emile Paré, an ophthalmic surgeon, stated that over 300 patients were waiting for surgery when the campaign began. The campaign addressed a significant need in the health district, where many patients had been waiting for surgical interventions.
Despite the campaign's success, the implementation presented some challenges. The condition of certain equipment, the need to reorganize facilities, and patient mobilization were some of the difficulties faced by the medical team. Dr. Gustave Emile Paré highlighted the difficulties in transporting patients, particularly the elderly, who often rely on their relatives to travel to the hospital. The harvest season also complicated patient mobilization, as many family members were busy in the fields.
Dr. Boukaré Derra, from the CMA in Boromo, welcomed the campaign, stating that it addressed a real need in the community. He expressed gratitude to the partners who made the initiative possible and encouraged the population to remain mobilized and take advantage of the available medical care. The campaign not only provided surgical interventions but also included post-operative follow-up at the CMA in Boromo within 45 days of the operations.
The free cataract surgery campaign was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and CBM to improve access to ophthalmological care and reduce avoidable blindness. For patients like Mariam and Tamini, the campaign offered more than just medical care; it provided a chance to regain their sight, autonomy, and a better quality of life. The campaign's success demonstrates the importance of such initiatives in addressing healthcare needs in the region.
Key points
- Over 300 patients benefited from the free cataract surgery campaign in Boromo, Burkina Faso.
- The campaign was organized with the support of the NGO CBM and the Ministry of Health to improve access to ophthalmological care in the region.
- The initiative included post-operative follow-up at the CMA in Boromo to ensure the patients' health conditions improved.
