Getting back her dignity
Imagine if the simple, everyday act of going to the toilet is impossible unassisted, as you are unable to see.
This was the case for 67-year-old Madame Djouma Oury Diallo, from Guinea, when she was suffering from cataract in both eyes.
Shame and humiliation
She was branded by a witch by the other villagers in Horè Fello, in the District of Gaoual, and had to make the 70 metre journey to the latrine by herself, aided only by her walking stick. This would often result in the humiliation of accidently putting her hand in other people’s mess, or making a mess herself, and she was disgraced by her unsympathetic neighbours.
She even tried to cut down on going altogether, and the resulting stress caused her to lose weight.
Her only child, a son, is an Imam, a Muslim religious leader, and as a man was not able to accompany her to the toilet.
My worries have relinquished. Sightsavers has restored back my life
One day she heard a radio broadcast about the Labe Regional Eye Care Centre, and decided to go in for a consultation. She was diagnosed with cataract in both eyes, and an operation on each was scheduled.
When she came for the post surgery visit a week later, she expressed her thanks to Sightsavers by giving her precious walking stick as a gift, saying: “My worries have relinquished. Sightsavers has restored back my life.”
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