HCP Cure Blindness

Doctors Angira Shrestha and Sanjita Sharma managed a two-day cataract workshop at the Hetauda Community Eye Hospital in Nepal. A total of 819 patients were screened and 157 cataract operations were provided.  Among the patients was Binu Maya Chepang a resident of Kakada VDC Makwanpur. Binu walked for seven hours to come to the workshop and receive treatment. She is now cataract free and her vision has been restored.

Doctors Geoff Tabin and Huck Holz worked with partners from Gondar University Hospital in Ethiopia to manage a high-volume cataract workshop at Debre-Tabor Hospital. During the workshop, 629 surgeries were provided including 13 pediatric cataract surgeries. Over the next year, HCP will be working to enhance the ophthalmology teaching programs at Gondar, with a focus on residency and sub-specialty fellowship training.

In October, the Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP) held two remote eye camps in Nepal, one in Hetauda and another in Phaplu.

HCP Co-Directors Drs. Geoff Tabin and Sanduk Ruit visited the Hetauda Community Eye Hospital and helped in an outreach microsurgical eye clinic. Affiliated Ophthalmologist Dr. Alan Crandall also participated, along with Hetauda ophthalmologists Drs. Pratibha Lama Joshi and Angira Shrestha.

A total of 1,200 patients were screened and 247 cataract surgeries were provided. 

Following Hetauda, Drs. Tabin and Crandall, together with partners from the District Community Eye Center, Solu Hospital, Nepal Red Cross Society and Himalayan Health and Environment Services, HCP and Tilganga, managed a two-day high-volume surgical event at the Phaplu Community Eye Center in honor of World Sight Day. 1,551 patients were screened and 92 cataract surgeries were provided to people from Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga and Khotang. 

Tilamaya Bishwokarma, a 70 year old woman in Nepal, lost her sight more than a year and a half ago.  Unable to receive treatment in her remote village, Tilamaya was carried to Phaplu to receive cataract surgery.  After her successful cataract surgery she stated, "I never thought I would see this day."