Nurzamzam goes from cataract patient to eye health advocate
Stories | Published: July 11, 2022 | Updated: January 23, 2024
Miracles Day is an annual event when CBM Australia supporters unite to give the Miracle of sight-saving surgery to people living in poverty worldwide. This story is about 65-year-old Nurzamzam, from Indonesia, who lived five years with cataracts.
Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision impairment globally. Although straightforward to treat, they often lead to permanent vision loss for people who can’t access affordable eye care and surgery. But, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Nurzamzam spent half a decade living with cataracts. Losing his sight was robbing him of the life he loved. He could no longer run his stall at the local market or care for his garden full of starfruit trees. Instead, he spent more and more time at home, depending on his family for their support, especially when he needed to go outside.
He knew about cataract surgery, but he was afraid, not just of the procedure itself but also of the expense. That was until he met Ulfah from a CBM-supported eye health project in Indonesia.
Ulfah explained that the surgery was simple and painless, and CBM would fund it. Nurzamzam was convinced, and he had the surgery.
After a short recovery, Nurzamzam was back to his old life, selling at the market and tending the family garden, but with one crucial difference… his courage made him an inspiration in his village.
Along with other community leaders, including Ulfah, Nurzamzam now uses his influence to encourage good eye health while helping to dispel the myths around cataract surgery, giving as many people as possible the opportunity to live a life free from preventable blindness.
CBM acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
https://www.cbm.org.au/stories/nurzamzam-goes-from-cataract-patient-to-eye-health-village-volunteer
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