

By Amin Kef (Ranger)
During a press conference held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Choithram Memorial Hospital, the hospital unveiled its 2026 Free Cataract Surgery Outreach Programme, aimed at providing free eye screenings and cataract surgeries to eligible patients across Sierra Leone as part of national efforts to eliminate preventable blindness. The programme, which commenced on April 10, 2026, is scheduled to run until June 8, 2026, at the hospital’s Hill Station facility in Freetown.
The outreach is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, in association with Choithram Netralaya, the Noor Dubai Foundation a member of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Choithram International Foundation.
The well-attended event brought together key stakeholders in the health sector, including Head of the Choithrams Group, Harish Agnani; Medical Superintendent, Dr. George; Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Clinical) at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mustapha Kabba; Deputy Programme Manager of the National Eye Health Programme, Sheku A. Koroma; as well as cataract surgeon Dr. Abhishek Patel and eye surgeons Dr. Meghna Shrishrimal and Dr. Akash Kathole, all from Choithram Netralaya in India, in addition to 3 Operation Theatre Staff also from India to support the camp alongside nurses from the hospital’s Eye Unit and members of the media.
Addressing the gathering, Harish Agnani officially announced the commencement of the 2026 Cataract Surgery Outreach Programme, a large-scale humanitarian initiative aimed at providing free eye care services to at least 3,000 people across the country. He disclosed that the programme, which began on April 14, will run for approximately eight weeks, with a team of specialist doctors from India expected to remain in Sierra Leone until June 8, 2026.
Emphasizing the inclusivity of the initiative, Harish Agnani reiterated that the outreach is entirely free for all beneficiaries. He revealed that within the first week, about 4,000 patients had already been screened, with nearly 200 successful surgeries completed, while the medical team continues to perform an average of 40 surgeries daily. By the end of the programme, the team is targeting between 1,500 and 1,800 cataract operations.
He described cataract surgery as life-changing, particularly for individuals who have lost their sight and independence, noting that restoring vision enables people to return to productive lives and regain their dignity. Reflecting on the success of the 2025 outreach, Harish Agnani stated that over 8,000 patients were screened nationwide, resulting in 1,542 successful surgeries with positive outcomes.
According to him, the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Choithram Netralaya in India, the Noor Dubai Foundation, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Choithram International Foundation. Harish Agnani explained that screening is not limited to Freetown, as district hospitals across the country are actively involved in identifying patients, who are then transported to the capital for surgery. Beneficiaries are provided with transportation, accommodation and feeding, all fully funded by Choithram and its partners.
In addition to delivering critical services, the programme also focuses on capacity building. Harish Agnani disclosed that seven nurses from Choithram Memorial Hospital were sent to India in 2025 for specialized training at Choithram Netralaya, urging them to cascade the knowledge acquired to strengthen local expertise in eye care.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mustapha Kabba, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Clinical) at the Ministry of Health, commended the outreach programme as a life-changing intervention that is significantly improving access to quality eye care services in Sierra Leone. He praised the visiting medical team for their dedication and described their continued engagement as a reflection of strong international collaboration.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in strengthening the healthcare system, noting that such collaborations are essential in addressing gaps in service delivery. He further revealed that the thousands of free surgeries conducted under similar initiatives represent a substantial financial investment in the country’s health sector, significantly reducing out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
He underscored the broader impact of the programme, explaining that patients are screened in district hospitals, transported to Freetown, treated and monitored, all at no cost. He also pointed to ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health to strengthen specialist training locally, including the development of ophthalmology programmes under the national postgraduate medical framework.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba acknowledged improvements in medical infrastructure nationwide but stressed the need to build public confidence in local healthcare services, encouraging citizens to utilize available facilities rather than seeking treatment abroad. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining quality standards and supporting initiatives that expand access to healthcare.
Also speaking, Sheku A. Koroma emphasized the critical role of the National Eye Health Programme in supporting the outreach, particularly in conducting initial screenings in the provinces and ensuring follow-up care for patients after surgery. He noted that affordability and fear of surgical outcomes have long been barriers to eye care, but the success of previous outreach programmes has helped build trust and increase participation.
Sheku A. Koroma assured that all procedures carried out under the programme meet international standards, with surgeons utilizing the Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery technique, known globally for its safety and effectiveness. He encouraged Sierra Leoneans to take advantage of the opportunity, describing the outreach as a significant step toward improving eye health outcomes nationwide.
The Press Conference concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to sustain the initiative and expand access to quality healthcare services, as the programme continues to restore sight and offer renewed hope to thousands across Sierra Leone.
https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/choithram-rolls-out-2026-free-cataract-outreach-targeting-3000-beneficiaries-nationwide/





