Eye Care Outreach Camp at Mangaka
St. Benedict Ndanda Referral Hospital, in collaboration with Stiftung Augenlicht from Germany, successfully conducted an Eye Care Outreach Camp at Mangaka District Hospital from 16th –17th February 2026. One ophthalmologist from Germany (Dr. Bahloul) conducted the camp in collaboration with one paediatric ophthalmologist from Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (Dr. Mwakakunyole) and our local ophthalmologist (Dr. Mjaliwa). The primary purpose of the camp was to support underprivileged patients who are unable to access eye care services due to financial constraints, while expanding access to quality eye care through screening, refraction, spectacle provision, and surgical treatment for patients with various eye conditions. All services were provided free of charge to the patients.
A total of 360 patients were screened, of whom 137 underwent refraction assessment. During the exercise, 49 patients received sunglasses and 8 received reading glasses, significantly improving visual comfort and daily functioning for beneficiaries.
In addition to outpatient services, the surgical team performed a total of 57 eye operations, including predominantly cataract surgeries, alongside corneal repair, conjunctival mass removal, pterygium excision, squint correction and other specialized procedures. The outreach was highly impactful, restoring sight to many patients and reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to preventing avoidable blindness and bringing specialized eye services closer to underserved and financially disadvantaged communities in Mangaka and surrounding areas.
