Physical Health Pakistan Project #23073

Restore eyesight to 1500 poor women in Pakistan

by The Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust

Project Report | Oct 8, 2018
Razia on her feet once again!

By Fauzia Aziz | Resource Development Manager

Razia a 45 year old woman came to LRBT Korangi and was diagnosed with cataract in both her eyes. Her husband was a rikshaw driver but unfortunately his rickshaw had been damaged in an accident a few years ago and since then he had been driving a friend’s rickshaw at night. He barely earned enough to pay the rent and put food on the table.

They had no children and Razia busied herself in household chores and taking care of her husband. Razia also dedicated some time to helping her old neighbor who lived alone. She would go to her house in the morning and cook for her and would contribute any free time towards helping others any way she could.

Razia noticed that gradually her sight was deteriorating and she found it difficult to do even regular tasks. Her husband took her to a local clinic and the doctor told her that she would need surgery -knowing they could not afford it she broke down. She was scared of who would look after her, after them if she went blind. Her husband fortunately remembered going to drop some customers to LRBT Korangi and he borrowed some money hoping that the cost of surgery might be cheaper here.

He was pleasantly surprised when he learnt that treatment was free of cost for the poor. Razia had a successful surgery in her left eye. She thanked LRBT doctors and wished its donors the best in this world and the hereafter for the selflessness with which they contribute to make lives of people like her better.

Razia has now started making envelopes at home which she then sells to a store in the market. She wants to contribute whatever she can to lessen her husband’s burden and improve their financial condition. She feels that getting her sight back has truly been a gift and she does not want it to go in vain.

Attachments:

razia_pics.docx (DOCX)

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Jul 13, 2018
Huma is getting her sight back, thanks to LRBT!

By Fauzia Aziz | Manager Resource Development

29 years old Huma is mother of a six year old girl and an eight year old boy. A housewife she learned stitching recently from a neighbor to support her husband in running the household expenses. With rising inflation and school fees her husband’s salary has not increased at the same rate and now they often find themselves running out of money before the month ends.

Having had to borrow money too often from friends and family, Huma decided to take matters in her own hands and spends the weekend sewing clothes. Her neat stitching and attention to detail has already earned her a loyal clientele, mostly mothers of children studying in the same school as her son and daughter.

Just when Huma felt that their financial burdens had eased somewhat, she was faced with another test. She felt she was unable to see as clearly as before, this continued for a couple of months till she felt like she was going blind. Huma finally confided in her husband who took her to an eye clinic where she was diagnosed with cataract in both her eyes much to her shock. With no history of eye ailments in her family and her age also not that old Huma could not fathom what had led to this.

In shock she was devastated to hear that the only cure was through surgery and it would cost her Rs. 50,000 for both eyes cataract surgery. Her husband was at a loss on how to console her. They could not afford to borrow any more money and had no savings.

A ray of hope came when a neighbor who was visiting saw Huma struggling with even daily tasks and upon enquiring about her condition, immediately told her to go to LRBT Korangi Hospital. She assured Huma that treatment would be free and she would receive quality care as well. Huma went the very next day and was given a date for surgery.

She had a successful surgery and already feels that her sight is much better, she will be back for her other eye surgery soon and was in tears thanking everyone at LRBT for enabling her to come out from this veil of darkness that had fallen over her life.

Attachments:

Huma (DOCX)

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Apr 16, 2018
Seema's second chance at leading a fulfilling life

By Fauzia Aziz | Manager Resource Development

Seema bibi started losing her sight a year ago when while cooking she felt her vision was blurry and in subsequent days it started to deteriorate. She asked her husband to take her to get her eyes checked but he refused saying it will go away. Seema had no choice but to agree as she had no one else to depend on since her family lived in another city, and so she carried on with her routine.

With time though, Seema found it difficult to do even the most basic of tasks, she felt she was unable to see from her left eye at all and later even her right eye seemed to be affected. One day while serving tea to her husband, she could not make out the edge of the table and placed it too close to the edge and it toppled over. Her husband got quite angry at her clumsiness and scolded her and went off to sleep. Seema was devastated, always known to be an optimist she now feared that her life would only go downhill from here on. But fate was kind to her and in the following days, her husband could see that she was having trouble seeing things and so he took her to LRBT Korangi for a checkup.

At LRBT, Seema was diagnosed with cataract in both eyes and the doctors gave her a date for surgery. Seema was worried that her husband would refuse to pay for the treatment as he was a laborer and had to support his aging parents too. But luckily for her treatment at the hospital was completely free. She had her first surgery for her left eye and was pleasantly surprised and relieved to learn that they would not have to pay for her medication even.

Seema had a successful follow-up visit and she will be coming back soon for her right eye surgery. Even with clear vision in just one eye, her life has improved drastically. She is able to do her work quickly and is back to her smiling optimistic self.

Upon leaving LRBT Korangi, she said, "May Allah bless LRBT for without it I would have remained blind and dependent on others for the rest of my life."

Links:

http://www.lrbt.org.pk

Attachments:

Seema Pictures (DOCX)

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