Embrace Relief sponsors 40,000th cataract surgery in Mali

BAMAKO, MALI (Feb. 26)–Abdramane Karambé has been a farmer all his life. Growing up in the town of Badiangara, in central Mali, Abdramane learned the ins and outs of agriculture from his father – a gift that has provided him with steady, productive work and a dignified life.

But Abdramane, now age 64 and living on the outskirts of Mali’s capital city, Bamako, has recently had that life taken away from him. Seven years ago, he noticed he had impaired vision in one eye. His eyesight deteriorated as months passed, and soon his second eye was also afflicted. Abdramane was suffering from cataracts, a common eye disease that is the world’s leading cause of blindness. But like many other people of modest means in Mali, he had no way to afford the medical care that would restore his sight – until he came into contact with Embrace Relief.

On February 17, 2024, Dramane and Embrace Relief celebrated a milestone together, as he became the 40,000th person to receive a free cataract surgery through our clinic in Bamako, Mali.

“I’ve never experienced so much care like this. This is the first time,” he said. “I can only say thank you for what you have done for me. May God assist you and make your organization prosper. May God give you a long life so you may help more people like me.”

Meeting Medical Needs in Mali

Embrace Relief has been operating with local partners in Mali since 2013, when it inaugurated the Cure Cataract program. The 21 million people who populate this culturally vibrant West African country face significant challenges in their everyday lives, the result of Mali’s status as one of the world’s least-economically developed nations. A particularly challenging issue is the provision of adequate, affordable healthcare to Malians.

According to the UN, less than 10 percent of Mali’s population have accessible basic healthcare services. The country’s ratio of doctors to people is 1 to 10,000, one of the world’s lowest. More than a third of the population is located nine miles (or more) from the nearest medical clinic, and must journey to these clinics on foot. Exacerbating the problem, many of these clinics lack the capacity to address many medical issues because of a lack of funding, available staff, and proper equipment. As a result, even common conditions like cataracts – a clouding of the eye’s lens which can be fixed with a simple surgery – can go untreated. Cataracts are responsible for nearly half of Mali’s 2 million people living with impaired vision.

Embrace Relief’s Cure Cataract program seeks to address this desperate need in Mali. Funding from Embrace Relief donors supports three medical clinics spread out throughout Bamako. These clinics provide cataract surgeries and health checkups for those in need, in addition to other medical services like dentistry, pediatrics, and ear/nose/throat care. All treatments are provided free at point of service. Augmenting these clinics is a mobile health van, which can travel up to three hours outside of Bamako, bringing medicine to rural villages. Additionally, an 18-wheel “Mobile Health Clinic” truck, which can travel up to nine hours outside the capital city and has the capacity to perform cataract surgeries and dental operations.

A Life-Changing Surgery

In an interview conducted with Embrace Relief prior to his surgery, Abdramane explained how cataracts had caused him great difficulties in everyday life. After years of worsening vision, he said, he had become completely blind one month prior.

“Now, I don’t go anywhere,” he said. “I stay at home since I have become blind. This impairment has stopped me from working the farm and doing everything I want. In addition to stopping me from farming, I cannot teach children Qur’an anymore as well. It’s affected my social life, my whole life. It’s stopped me from going to my relatives’ house, friends, my brother and sisters’ [house].

When Abdramane learned about Embrace Relief’s clinic, he was overjoyed. He knew that this would be the solution that would restore his vision and give him his life back. He registered and was added to Embrace Relief’s free cataract surgery waiting list, and by February 17th, it was his turn. Dramane expressed his great excitement, and shared his genuine thanks with his trained volunteer doctor, as well as the Embrace Relief donors who made the day possible.

“Knowing that I will see again from Embrace Relief’s free cataract surgery makes me give thanks to God and Embrace Relief. I hope God assists them with their projects – that is all I can say.”

After his surgery was complete, Abdramane reported no pain or difficulties. On the day his doctor removed the bandages from his eyes, he announced an immediate improvement in his vision. Soon enough, life will return to normal for Abdramane, including a return to the farm work he loves.

“My vision has improved very much,” he told Embrace Relief, one week after his surgery. “I no longer rely on another’s guidance, I marveled at my ability to navigate to the bathroom unaided. The surgery had brought forth a transformation, freeing me from everyday dependency.”

Give the Gift of Sight Today!

Abdramane’s story is similar to so many other Malians over the past 10 years. Before he found Embrace Relief’s free medical clinic in Bamako, he faced an unforgiving world he could not see. But because one Embrace Relief donor, halfway around the world, decided to support the Cure Cataract program, Abdramane now has his life back. Rather than a dark, blurry future, Abdramane can return to his farm and provide for himself, his family, and his community.

This is the incredible impact that can be made with just $55. But we can’t give the gift of sight without donors like you.

A total donation of $100 provides one life-changing cataract surgery, as well as 15 health checkups, giving people in Mali the opportunity to detect and treat illnesses and diseases early. With your help, we can add on to the incredible legacy of success stories like Abdramane’s for years to come.

Donate today using the donation box below and help Embrace Relief continue to give the gift of sight!