By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Following the success of its 2025 Cataract Surgery Outreach Program, which provided free eye care to thousands, Choithram Memorial Hospital (CMH) has announced that it will host another Cataract Surgery Camp from March to May 2026.
During the last outreach, CMH screened 9,117 patients and successfully carried out 1,542 free cataract surgeries, giving many Sierra Leoneans the chance to regain their sight. The initiative, widely praised by beneficiaries, was described as a significant step in tackling preventable blindness in the country.
Hospital officials confirmed that the upcoming camp will once again be held free of charge and will be delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Choithram Netralaya (Eye Hospital) in Indore, India, the Noor Dubai Foundation, a member of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), Dubai, UAE and the Choithram International Foundation.
Screenings for patients will take place at Choithram Memorial Hospital, Freetown, between 2nd September 2025 and 15th February 2026. Depending on medical needs, patients will undergo either Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) or Phacoemulsification, performed by visiting international surgeons working alongside CMH’s ophthalmology team.
In addition to providing treatment, CMH noted that the camp will also focus on capacity building, with local doctors and nurses receiving hands-on training in advanced cataract surgery techniques. According to the hospital, this will help strengthen Sierra Leone’s eye health services in the long term.
Meanwhile, the hospital has urged members of the public experiencing vision problems due to cataracts to take advantage of the upcoming screenings. Tokens for screening will be distributed from 27th August 2025 between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM at CMH.
