Phebe, Bong County – Excitement over the weekend engulfed the premises of the Phebe Hospital in Bong County when more than 140 people regained their sight after successful free cataract operations. This initiative was organized by First Sight Eye Clinic in collaboration with the General Optimal Association of Liberia (GOAL) with support from the Cure Blindness Project.
The exercise, which began on the 17th and ended on the 20th of March 2025, was part of activities marking GOAL’s activities which mark its 7th anniversary and the 4th National Convention held with its Bong Chapter. These activities were marked by the conduct of medical screenings and surgeries. This year, they had three days of screenings, supported by the Cure Blindness Project and other partners. A surgical team based in the U.S. was also instrumental to the entire process.
James Flomo, 71, with excitement on his face expressed gratitude to the leadership of GOAL and the US-based surgical team for the initiative, something he described as timely. “I feel relief, and I feel amazed. I feel like a human on earth now,“ said Mr. Flomo. Mr. James Flomo told the Daily Observer in an exclusive interview that he lost his sight since 2017. “Today I am so happy and am going back home to testify to the goodness of God.”
Following his operation, Flomo told the Daily Observer in an exclusive interview that he had lost his sight since 2017, and due to the situation, he could no longer support his family, as he lives by begging family members and friends for survival. Flomo prior to loss of sight, was a farmer.
“I no longer make a farm like before. I have three children right now; only one is in school,” he added. As Flomo’s sight is finally restored, he is optimistic that things will get better again. He had a bilateral complication which makes it difficult to see with both eyes.
Ma Kebeh Torkpa 62, and Annie Flomo, 53, both had glaucoma, as they narrated their story separately. For Ma-Kebeh, she never imagined she could lose her sight so silently, as the warning signs had been there, but as a struggling petty business woman, she couldn’t afford much to go for an eye checkup. For Annie, for more than 4 years now she had been struggling with a vision impediment. Annie said her only source of income is farming.
According to Ma Kebeh, since she lost her sight in 2022, she finds it challenging to take care of her children. Annie is a mother of 5; she could not hold back. “I am so grateful that I can see once again.”
Glaucoma is an eye condition that damages the optic nerve. This damage can lead to vision loss or blindness. The optic nerve sends visual information from the eye to the brain and is vital for good vision. Damage to the optic nerve is often related to high pressure in the eye.
With smiles on the faces of Ma-Kebeh Torkpa and Annie Flomo, both expressed gratitude to the surgical team for a successful surgery.
In order to solve Liberia’s present eye health issues, Dr. Geoffrey Craig Tabin, a professor of ophthalmology and global medicine at Stanford University, emphasized the significance of educating additional eye health specialists. Building the competence of eye health practitioners is crucial since Liberia lacks proper access to eye health care services, he told the Reports231.
According to him, glaucoma is harmful since it doesn’t exhibit any signs until it has progressed to a critical stage. According to Dr. Tabin, glaucoma affects around 7% of eye patients each year, and by the time they seek care, their eyesight is frequently significantly compromised. We try our best, but regrettably, the majority of instances are already advanced.
Dr. Geoffrey Craig Tabin performs surgery on a patient, other surgeons look on.
Globally, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, affecting over 70 million people, and it is expected to impact 111.8 million by 2040. If left untreated, it might cause permanent blindness by silently harming the optic nerve.
Dr. Geoffrey stated in a PowerPoint presentation that the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) depends on addressing blindness and visual loss. Blind people miss out on employment and educational possibilities, which fuels ongoing inequality. The UN resolution on vision from 2021 states that eye care is essential to reaching the SDG.
Those who had been suffering from vision impairment for a number of years found complete cure from this amazing surgical outreach program at Phebe Hospital in Bong County.
Cataracts affect countless numbers of Liberians; some are brought on by underlying medical issues, others by injuries or extended sun exposure, and some by post-Ebola syndrome. They are frequently congenital. One of the contributing causes is the dearth of eye health care services in the sub-region, according to a research by the West Africa Health Foundation.
Gideon Tenty, General Secretary of GOAL, said, “when we started, it wasn’t easy. Patients came in large numbers, surpassing our expectations. After our interview, we noticed a greater influx of patients. To manage the situation, we quickly arranged the patients and prioritized those needing surgery.”
Mr. Tenty, who is also a surgeon said, by the end of each day, they successfully operated on 40 patients after evaluating and accepting around 62 individuals for surgery on the first day.
He mentioned that apart from regular cases, they also handled some traumatic injuries. “We are blessed to have a dedicated team, including specialists from the U.S. and India. Together, they have already operated on one 12-year-old boy. The cases vary he said, some patients suffer from traumatic injuries, such as eye injuries caused by accidents. Others have congenital conditions that worsen over time. “For instance, we have a case where a child developed a condition over the years and is now around 8 or 9 years’ old that was also taken care of.”
“We refer cases to medical centers like John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFKMC) if we come across cases that are outside of our purview,” Tenty stated. We direct pediatric problems to experts because our primary concentration is on adults. Tenty did, however, commend the work done thus far by all of Liberia’s eye care providers.
Reported by: Simeon Wiakanty
Contact: +231881538878
