United Bulawayo Hospitals in partnership with Council for the Blind conducted a cataract assessment in Mberengwa for the Jacobs Family following the presentation of one of the family members at Richard Morris with cataracts. After an examination by an ophthalmologist, the patient reported that several other family members at home were experiencing similar eye problems. As a result, a family-based outreach assessment was organized and conducted in Mberengwa on the 7th of November 2025.

The Team comprised of the following:

– Mandy Nyathi- CFB Richard Morris Coordinator

– Isaac Nhubu- UBH Public Relations Officer

– Florence Mhazo- UBH Ophthalmic Nurse

– Bridget Phiri- UBH Ophthalmic Nurse

– Sieletso Noko- UBH Medical Social Worker

– Liberty Moyo- CFB Driver

The team was dispatched to Mberengwa to screen the remaining members of the Jacobs Family. Upon arrival, the team found 27 members of the Jacobs Family waiting for assessment, comprising 15 children and 12 adults. Some family members travelled from as far as Beitbridge, while others were unable to attend due to lack of transport funds, despite reportedly having similar eye conditions. Of the 15 children, 7 were confirmed to have cataracts by the opthalmic nurses. Of the 12 adults screened, 2 were diagnosed with cataracts. Additional eye and skin conditions were identified, including allergic conjunctivitis and ring worm, all of which require medical attention. Limited health awareness in the community was noted as a contributing factor to the progression of these conditions. It was also noted that several children did not have birth certificates, posing challenges in accessing health and social services.

The family was informed that they would be notified of the dates for surgical operations for those requiring cataract surgery. The family expressed appreciation for the visit and requested the screening exercise to be repeated to benefit other community members, as the area is remote and awareness of eye health is low. Assistance with transport (bus fares) to enable travel to Richard Morris Hospital for further management and allow other family members who missed the initial screening due to financial constraints to be examined.

On 9 December 2025, the Council for the Blind (CFB) sponsored bus fares for the family to travel to Richard Morris Hospital for further interventions. 10 family members managed to travel to hospital. On the following day, they were assessed by an ophthalmologist. 5 patients -2 Adults and 3 children were scheduled for surgery on the 11th of December 2025. All 5 were diagnosed with bilateral cataracts and successfully underwent bilateral cataract surgery (both eyes). The grandmother who is the primary caregiver for the children, expressed great happiness with the surgical outcomes. She extended her gratitude to the council for the blind and the health personnel for their support and commitment. The Jacobs Family is going to be reviewed again in 4 months’ time. They were all retracted and spectacles are being made. The hope is that upon review they would have done at least 3 months of spectacles wear and can then determine the visual prognosis.

In Conclusion, the cataract screening exercise in Mberengwa was successful in identifying several individuals, including children, who required surgical intervention. The subsequent sponsorship Transport and surgical management led to positive outcomes for affected family members. However, sustained outreach, improved community awareness and logistical support remain critical to ensure that all affected individuals especially children in remote areas receive timely and appropriate eye care.