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'My life is so much better now' | 'My life is so much better now' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
In the west, cataract surgery is a routine operation. But in rural Africa, people can find it extremely difficult to get diagnosed and treated for the condition - and it can ruin their lives. | In the west, cataract surgery is a routine operation. But in rural Africa, people can find it extremely difficult to get diagnosed and treated for the condition - and it can ruin their lives. |
The village of Kotyana is home to 72-year-old Ndawayipheli and his wife Nojongile, 68. | The village of Kotyana is home to 72-year-old Ndawayipheli and his wife Nojongile, 68. |
It's a beautiful village over 1,300 kilometres from Cape Town, South Africa. The village is surrounded by rolling green hills. | It's a beautiful village over 1,300 kilometres from Cape Town, South Africa. The village is surrounded by rolling green hills. |
The villagers live in brightly coloured thatched huts dotted along the lush green landscape. | The villagers live in brightly coloured thatched huts dotted along the lush green landscape. |
However until recently neither of the couple could enjoy the breath-taking views because they both were blind. | However until recently neither of the couple could enjoy the breath-taking views because they both were blind. |
Both Nojongile and Ndawayipheli lost their sight because of cataracts - a condition that can be corrected with a 20 minute routine surgery, but for them diagnosis and treatment is difficult to access because of the remoteness of their location. | Both Nojongile and Ndawayipheli lost their sight because of cataracts - a condition that can be corrected with a 20 minute routine surgery, but for them diagnosis and treatment is difficult to access because of the remoteness of their location. |
Kotyana is up to four hours' travel away from Mthatha, where cataract surgery is offered. And the waiting list there is up to a year long. | Kotyana is up to four hours' travel away from Mthatha, where cataract surgery is offered. And the waiting list there is up to a year long. |
Recently, however, a cataract surgery service has been created less than an hour from Kotyana - which is where Nojongile was treated last year and where Ndawayipheli will have his operation later this year. | Recently, however, a cataract surgery service has been created less than an hour from Kotyana - which is where Nojongile was treated last year and where Ndawayipheli will have his operation later this year. |
Open access | Open access |
It was the obstacle of remoteness that Dr William Mapham, an ophthalmology registrar at Tygerberg hospital set out to overcome. | It was the obstacle of remoteness that Dr William Mapham, an ophthalmology registrar at Tygerberg hospital set out to overcome. |
He came up with an app that runs on smartphones - the Vula App. | He came up with an app that runs on smartphones - the Vula App. |
Vula means 'open' in Siswati, Xhosa and Zulu and the app enables health workers anywhere in the country to assess eye patients in remote consultation with an eye health specialist. | Vula means 'open' in Siswati, Xhosa and Zulu and the app enables health workers anywhere in the country to assess eye patients in remote consultation with an eye health specialist. |
They can carry out a vision test, photograph the eye, and go through a checklist of symptoms. Once these details are uploaded, a specialist miles away can offer a diagnosis, recommend treatment or book an appointment at a specialist centre. | They can carry out a vision test, photograph the eye, and go through a checklist of symptoms. Once these details are uploaded, a specialist miles away can offer a diagnosis, recommend treatment or book an appointment at a specialist centre. |
Restoring sight | Restoring sight |
As a result of her cataract surgery in both eyes, Nojongile can now see again and perform her daily chores. | As a result of her cataract surgery in both eyes, Nojongile can now see again and perform her daily chores. |
Until recently, she had to ask for help from other women in the village. | Until recently, she had to ask for help from other women in the village. |
She now relishes tasks such as cooking food on her open fire, and throwing stones at the birds of prey eyeing up her baby chicks. | She now relishes tasks such as cooking food on her open fire, and throwing stones at the birds of prey eyeing up her baby chicks. |
She says: "After the operation, my eye was covered for two days. On the third day I removed the patch and I could see! | She says: "After the operation, my eye was covered for two days. On the third day I removed the patch and I could see! |
"My life is so much better now. It was really bad when I was blind, I was even afraid to do a simple thing such as walking. I was afraid of hurting myself because I couldn't see where I was going." | "My life is so much better now. It was really bad when I was blind, I was even afraid to do a simple thing such as walking. I was afraid of hurting myself because I couldn't see where I was going." |
Nojongile is no longer afraid of hurting herself, but her 72-year-old husband Ndawayipheli remains almost completely blind. | Nojongile is no longer afraid of hurting herself, but her 72-year-old husband Ndawayipheli remains almost completely blind. |
He totters around with the help of a walking stick and increasingly keeps himself to himself. Unfamiliar voices disturb him. | He totters around with the help of a walking stick and increasingly keeps himself to himself. Unfamiliar voices disturb him. |
Despite the success of Nojongile's operation, Ndawayipheli remains reticent to go under the knife himself. Nojongile is trying to convince her husband to have the operation. | Despite the success of Nojongile's operation, Ndawayipheli remains reticent to go under the knife himself. Nojongile is trying to convince her husband to have the operation. |
Dr Mapham has visited the village to examine him using the Vula App. It means the family can also see the cataracts, which are seen more easily on a photo than in real life. | Dr Mapham has visited the village to examine him using the Vula App. It means the family can also see the cataracts, which are seen more easily on a photo than in real life. |
It means they can help persuade Ndawayipheli to have the procedure. He is now on a waiting list and has been connected to a specialist at a referral hospital less than 8 kilometres away from his home. | It means they can help persuade Ndawayipheli to have the procedure. He is now on a waiting list and has been connected to a specialist at a referral hospital less than 8 kilometres away from his home. |
For many doctors in rural areas, treating eye problems can be challenge because they tend to be general practitioners. | For many doctors in rural areas, treating eye problems can be challenge because they tend to be general practitioners. |
So having instant access eye specialists has been a welcome change to the way they work. | So having instant access eye specialists has been a welcome change to the way they work. |
Dr Amy Linde, a rural healthcare worker who often uses the app says it helps them connect us with specialists who before it was quite difficult to access. | Dr Amy Linde, a rural healthcare worker who often uses the app says it helps them connect us with specialists who before it was quite difficult to access. |
She adds: "It allows us to access an experience level and a level of knowledge that we may not have ourselves, or, or you know things that we haven't seen before." | She adds: "It allows us to access an experience level and a level of knowledge that we may not have ourselves, or, or you know things that we haven't seen before." |
Med in Africa is a brand new eight-part series showcasing health innovations across Africa and what these might mean for the future of healthcare on the continent and beyond. | Med in Africa is a brand new eight-part series showcasing health innovations across Africa and what these might mean for the future of healthcare on the continent and beyond. |
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