Provide Sight to 10,000 Blind Children in Pakistan

12 year old Naheed never got the opportunity to go to school but she was an avid learner. Her father a helper in a factory could only afford to send three out of his nine children to school. As the prevalent custom in our country, the boys were given reference. While her brothers went to school, Naheed helped out at home and in her free time was learning how to sew form her mother.

However in the past two years Naheed felt her vision was getting hazy, she would often be seen clutching onto furniture when walking and would also rub her eyes in vain hoping to clear out whatever was in there. Naheed’s growing complaints about her inability to see clearly was a source of constant concern for her poor parents. Her father took her to a local doctor who prescribed some eye drops and said at Naheed’s age it was unlikely that it was a serious eye ailment and left it at that. Naheed’s vision did not improve. Unable to do much else because of lack of funds, her mother prayed to Allah to cure her young daughter’s eyes.

Living in Badin they did not have access to proper eye care facilities either, through a stroke of luck they found out about LRBT Gambhat Primary Eye Care Center. Naheed was examined in detail and diagnosed with cataract in both eyes. She was referred to LRBT Korangi hospital for cataract surgery. Naheed’s father took a loan from some relatives and came to Karachi for her treatment.

Naheed’s right eye was operated upon successfully and soon she will be back for her left eye’s surgery. The smile on Naheed’s face and tears in her father’s eyes spoke volumes about their joy and upon leaving the hospital, Naheed’s father was all praises,

“I am so grateful to Allah and LRBT and its kind donors who have made it possible for poor people like us to get quality eye care free of cost.”

• Naheed (DOC)