Choithram Memorial Hospital has announced plans to provide free cataract surgeries to between 2,500 and 3,000 people in January 2027, following the successful completion of 73 free paediatric surgical operations in partnership with the Bintumani Association of Germany.
The forthcoming intervention, expected to commence in mid-January, will be undertaken in collaboration with a visiting team of medical specialists from India, with screening already underway at the hospital.
Speaking during a media engagement at the hospital on Thursday, 12 November 2026, Harish Agnani, Chief Administrator of Choithram Group, said the initiative is part of the hospital’s continued efforts to make specialized healthcare accessible to people who cannot afford expensive medical treatment.
He urged people experiencing eye problems to visit the hospital for screening ahead of the January programme, adding that patients identified as requiring surgery would be attended to by the visiting Indian specialists. He also appealed to media organisations to publicize the initiative to ensure that people across the country benefit from the opportunity.
The announcement followed the completion of a two-week paediatric surgical camp held from 31 October to 12 November 2026, during which 73 children underwent free surgical operations for various conditions, including hernias, hypospadias, congenital abnormalities and soft tissue tumours.
Harish Agnani disclosed that 150 children were screened, with 73 undergoing surgery. Five additional operations were performed on the final day of the camp. He noted that the procedures could otherwise cost beneficiaries approximately US$2,000 or more, depending on their complexity, but all treatment, including screening, investigations, medication and surgery, was provided free of charge.
He explained that the programme was made possible through a longstanding partnership between Choithram Memorial Hospital and the Bintumani Association of Germany, with support from Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Germany, Dr Mbaimba Lamin Baryoh.
According to Harish Agnani, the hospital provided funding, logistics and medical facilities, while the German Association contributed specialist expertise. He commended Ambassador Dr Mbaimba Lamin Baryoh for initiating and sustaining the partnership and praised the visiting doctors and local hospital staff for their dedication.
He further highlighted the capacity-building aspect of the programme, explaining that the German specialists worked alongside local medical personnel to strengthen their skills and enable them to provide follow-up care and undertake procedures within their capabilities after the visiting team returned to Germany.
Leading the visiting delegation, Dr Tilman Gresing described the two-week programme as a successful experience, disclosing that the operations covered different conditions, including congenital abnormalities, soft tissue tumours, abdominal and groin hernias, as well as urethral fistulas in boys following circumcision.
He commended the hospital’s operating theatre personnel and nurses for their cooperation, particularly their role in preparing the children for surgery and providing post-operative care. He said the support of the local medical team was essential to the success of the exercise.
The German delegation comprised Dr Tilman Gresing and Esther Lau, both paediatric surgeons; Kathrin Ruesse, an anaesthetist; and Anka Drebes, an anaesthetic nurse. They worked alongside local medical personnel throughout the programme.
The hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr Gowrinath M. George, explained that the Bintumani Association covered the visiting doctors’ travel arrangements, accommodation and related expenses, while Choithram provided local logistics and medical support.
He added that beneficiaries received comprehensive care, including pre-operative assessments, laboratory investigations and diagnostic services such as ultrasound scans and X-rays, all free of charge.
Meanwhile, Michael Teddy Timbo, a parent of one of the children who benefited from the programme, expressed gratitude to the hospital Management, German medical team and other staff for providing his child with access to specialized treatment. He encouraged the organizers to sustain the initiative so that more families could benefit from similar interventions.
Harish Agnani assured beneficiaries that the hospital’s commitment extended beyond surgery, noting that it would continue to provide post-operative support, including medication and dressing, where necessary.
The two initiatives reflect Choithram Memorial Hospital’s continued collaboration with international medical partners to expand access to specialized healthcare, provide free surgical interventions and strengthen the capacity of local healthcare professionals in Sierra Leone.
