Blind and forgotten – no one should be barred from the life they should be living
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Njiruzalo, from Malawi, has lived with a cataract that has held her back her entire life.
Now in her 30s, Njiruzalo has five sons, three of whom have cataracts: Malekano, Vincent and Richard. Malekano is 18 and in grade three at primary school. Njiruzalo longs for him to go further than she did.
Since her husband left to find work, Njiruzalo has been raising their five sons alone.
“I spend my days looking for work. I go to people’s farms and take maize to the mill, so I can bring back flour for the home.”
But Njiruzalo’s blindness makes everything harder for her.
“I struggle to put food on the table.”
With so much stacked against her, she could never save for the surgeries she and her sons need.
Will you free a family from a life spent in darkness needlessly?
Njiruzalo and her sons could have received sight years ago – it’s why gifts like yours are so vital.
In desperation, Njiruzalo tried many times to get help for her and her sons. But their local clinic always gave the same answer: “just live with it.”
Then Njiruzalo heard that CBM’s partner, Nkhoma Eye Hospital, was running an outreach camp in a primary school nearby. Njiruzalo dared to hope again.
She took Malekano, Vincent and Richard, who were diagnosed with bilateral cataracts. Njiruzalo was diagnosed with unilateral cataracts. She had never heard of the condition before or that it was completely treatable – if done soon enough.
They soon underwent surgery and after, Dr Moyo, shares unexpected good news:
“Before, they could see only hand movements and light perception. Now they can see one metre ahead of the operated eye. This means they will be able to walk around independently.”