By Gerda Potgieter, Devoted Magazine
A Doctors For Life International (DFL) team restored sight to 120 patients during an outreach in Mozambique this month to provide transformative eye surgery and share the Gospel.
The medical volunteers from SA and the US, including three eye specialists and two nurses, doubled the number of successful surgeries they performed during their last outreach in 2024.
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The eye surgery was performed for free at the Inhambane Provincial Hospital. Challenges included difficulty communicating with both the local Portuguese-speaking staff and the patients, who speak various languages.
Among those receiving care was a six-year-old girl struggling with severe corneal pressure regulation issues. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the medical team, she received the help she needed.
Hightlighting the challenges and impact of their outreaches, project leader Johan Claassen shared a story about a 97-year-old woman patient they served during the mission. “This elderly lady patiently awaited her turn outside the operating room. When the moment finally arrived for her to enter the operating area, she approached the operating table with calmness and grace,” he said.
“However, as the doctor prepared to administer the necessary injection, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The woman suddenly began calling out to her deceased ancestors, disrupting everyone and catching them off guard. Her granddaughter stepped forward and implored her to be calm, but her words were brushed aside. The intensity of the situation escalated, leaving the medical team with no alternative but to abort the surgery. This incident not only highlighted the emotional complexities involved but also underscored the profound impact such circumstances can have on both patients and healthcare providers.
“Her granddaughter brought her again on the last day of surgery. She again had to wait until the end of the day. Due to previous experience, the doctors decided to use an anaesthetist to put her to sleep. Although she was calmer this time, her granddaughter again had to intervene to help her through the process. Eventually, she received two procedures from two different ophthalmologists from the DFL team”.
The elderly patient underwent an eyelid operation to treat trachoma, which was causing her cornea to become scarred and leading to blindness. She was also blind in both eyes due to cataracts. Even if the cataracts were removed, trachoma would eventually cause secondary blindness if not treated. The procedures took longer than usual because of additional complications. Although the surgeon was able to remove the cataracts, the team could not implant a new lens. She should be able to see light and movement for now, said Claasen.
He said the critical aspect of this case is that after the successful trachoma surgery, local doctors can attempt to implant the lens again about six weeks. The old lady was case number 120 — the last patient assisted through the outreach. The surgeon said he had not personally encountered so many cases of dense cataracts, which can cause complete blindness, as they saw in Mozambique.
In addition to reaching the poorest of the poor through its Aid to Africa programme, the DFL outreach team makes a sustainable impact on the community by training local carers and healthcare workers.
Claassen said that when Christians like the DFL team members interact with people who practice ancestral worship, they may encounter spiritual, cultural, and relational challenges. The issues often run deeper in the context of African Traditional Religion, as they touch on identity, family loyalty, and a sense of belonging to a community. DFL volunteers meet the challenges by respectfully acknowledging others’ beliefs, while praying directly to God andsharing the Gospel with them. Additionally, they pray with and for their co-workers.
For more information about the work DFL International, visit: www.dfl.international.org.za)
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