Dr Alfred Midaho

Dr Alfred Midaho is a cataract surgeon at the Magubike Health Centre eye clinic in Kilosa District, Tanzania. Alfred is 46, and is married with two children.

Dr. Midaho after carrying out a cataract operation

“My name is Dr Alfred Midaho and I have been a cataract surgeon since 2003. Before then I was a doctor.

I decided to specialise in eyes because both my grandparents had cataracts and I was really impressed by the way their sight was restored. They were so delighted to be able to see again and the surgery had a positive effect on the whole family. (Cataract is when the eye’s lens gets cloudy and stops letting light in. Find out more here.)

Spreading the word

Now I feel good after successful cataract surgeries. I know the patient will tell other people about the success and other patients will follow. This way more people will have their problems solved.

Dr. Midaho examinng a patient

I feel bad that I can't get to some of the people who need my help - they are unreachable. Many people live very far away, a long distance from the roads, so they won't hear about the service. I think about 80% of the population are being reached.

Scared to have surgery

People are also afraid to have surgery. I had a cataract patient last year who I met more than five times and convinced her that cataract surgery could help her see again. An appointment was made five times for her surgery, but she never came! In the end I had to convince her community leaders, who then had to convince her family to encourage her to attend. She can now see well and appreciates the surgery.

Lots of people believe in witchcraft and blindness being a curse - so often there are challenges other than distance to consider!”