Heaptalk, Jakarta — West Kutai Regency Government through the Health Department holds free cataract surgeries for 140 residents. This activity is carried out for four days on October 23-26, 2023 at the Sendawar Pratama Hospital, Linggang Bigung District.
Head of West Kutai Health Department Dr. Ritawati Sinaga delivered that cataract surgery is one of the steps to eliminate the main cause of blindness that can be prevented and treated. Cataracts are one of the health problems experienced by people in West Kutai.
“Apart from that, this activity can reduce the number of diseases that cause blindness due to cataracts, increase eye health prevention and treatment programs in West Kutai, and boost the productivity of cataract patients and their families in everyday life,” said Ritawati as quoted in the press release.
This activity targets cataract sufferers in 19 Community Health Centers in 16 districts throughout West Kutai. Ritawati further explained that cataract surgery uses the SICS type of surgery, a process that is relatively fast, cheap, and provides good results.
In its implementation, Pratama Sendawar Hospital collaborates with the eye clinic dr. Arie Umboh from Samarinda to perform the surgeries. She said, “dr. Arie Umboh eye clinic is a clinic that specializes in providing eye health services and can perform services outside the building.”
In addition, the West Kutai Health Department also holds pterygium surgery and distributes free refractive glasses for 100 students from underprivileged families with vision issues such as myopia, hypermetropia, and cylindrical vision.
The distribution of glasses is carried out at Pratama Sendawar Hospital after examining the eye condition. “Apart from being free, we also provide accommodation, transportation, and food for patients. Likewise, with the companion, we provide the same facilities. Not only that, for pre-operative patients, we also provide spell beds and carpets,” concluded Ritawati. (Translated by Sinta)
