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Eye surgery
It was thrilling to be at St Andrew’s in the week of the eye surgery, and to be able to talk at length
with the visiting surgeon, my ex-student, Amos Nyaka. He comes to Mtunthama each month to
operate and restore sight, usually about 60 operations a month. 75% of blindness in Malawi is
curable – the result of untreated cataracts. Amos operated for two days, and I had the privilege
of seeing the patches come off, and sight restored.
I was in the room with permission from Amos:
he even warned the patients that the first thing
they might see would be some white visitors!
Gently, gently, he moved around, taking off the
patches and wiping eyes. Slowly, slowly, patients
blinked, smiled – some were silent at first,
taking it in. One lady burst into song, then others
joined, clapped and cheered. One man made a
speech of thanks. But it is the nervous smiles I
will remember most, smiles of sheer joy. As soon
as Amos is gone, others begin the process of
promoting , screening, and arranging to collect
patients for the following month – a team effort.
It was good to be there this year with students from Shrewsbury School, who raised the
£20,000 needed to build the Shrewsbury Eye Clinic, and they continue to help support
the cost of operations and our other work very generously month by month. While the
students were there we collected some valuable data about the patients – where they
came from, how long they had been blind, what problems it caused for them, and above
all their hopes for new life once they had regained sight.
AMAO
The orphanage continues to be a place of warmth and love, led by Mrs Elizabeth Kamphani
and her team. Their commitment and energy is wonderful: constantly giving love and hugs,
whilst also attending to the endless chores. It was good to be able to have a team to help
with the chores for a few days, but our thanks go to Elizabeth and all the staff for their
constant work, day in day out.

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