Location: Tanzania

Professional who works in eye health and development

He could barely see and always needed someone to guide him. After cataract surgery on both eyes, he received the gift of sight. He started walking by himself, smiling and proud of his independence. It made me realise this gift changes not only what someone sees but who they become.

At the Mo Dewji eye health camp in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, I met a man who could not see clearly out of either eye. He could only make out shapes and movement, so someone had to guide him by holding his arm.

That day, he had cataract surgery on one eye. The next day, he came back to schedule surgery for his other eye, and I almost didn't recognise him. He walked in on his own, smiling, and went straight to the registration desk to handle everythinghimself, even though only one eye had been treated so far.

He later had surgery on his second eye too.

The man I saw after both surgeries was completely different from the one who first arrived. He stood taller, walked with confidence, and laughed easily. He no longer needed anyone’s help and was truly himself again.

I have worked in health programs and seen plenty of data, from surgery counts to targets met. But nothing shows the true impact like watching a man walk in on his own, smiling because he can see again. He didn’t just get his sight back; he found himself again.