1. The Cataract Surgery Campaign
1.1. Background
Pakistan has a population of 230 million. It has become increasingly difficult for the limited number of doctors and health facilities to cater to the needs of patients. According to the Planning and Development Division, at present, there are only 274,994 registered doctors in the country.
FOR EVERY 1,206 PEOPLE, THERE IS JUST 1 DOCTOR.
Moreover, the unavailability of health facilities in far-flung areas leaves many patients untreated and their diseases undiagnosed. People avoid going to hospitals for treatment and more eye checkups due to poverty and lack of means of transport resulting in loss of sight and deaths from preventable and treatable diseases. In Pakistan, healthcare has become a luxury rather than a right, afforded only by those who have wealth. Many people prefer to save money for their children instead of spending on their eye checkups.
In Pakistan, there are an estimated 570,000 adults who are blind due to cataracts.
1.2. Objectives of The Campaign
The main objectives of the campaign are:
- To provide medical assistance to cure cataracts.
- To provide eye health-related awareness to the beneficiaries.
- To foster the prevention of cataracts among people who cannot afford medical treatment.
- To develop healthy habits in children to improve their eyesight conditions.
2.3 Implementation Strategy
For the implementation of Cataract Surgery, the COPCs team conducted a thorough background check of beneficiaries to select the most deserving among them. The criteria for selection of beneficiaries are in accordance with the need of the family and were living under the poverty line.
One of the COPCS team members is assigned to all the arrangements and facilitation of the patient from the initial checkup till discharge from Shifa International Hospital after successful Surgery. Best Health Services was selected for the cataract surgery and the best health professionals were involved in the facilitation of the patients.
2.4 Details of Assisted Beneficiaries
| Sr. No. | Name | CNIC | Contact No. | Date of Surgery |
| 1 | Mr. Zafar Iqbal | 37301-5607572-4 | 0336-5115736 | 23-01-2023 |
| 2 | Ms. Begum Jaan | 82203-4358136-8 | 0346-5668436 | 03-03-2023 |
| 3 | Mr. Ghulam Nabi | 42000-0359871-3 | 0330-2826263 | 01-06-2023 |
Mr. Zaffar Iqbal
