Nigerian Eye Camp
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What a blessing to those who were blind, but now see! The Apostles healed many and "more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number." Acts 5:14 NIVOn May 12th, 2002, Pearl writes in her journal: "We just completed a 2 week Eye Camp. Wow, what an experience! Dr. Lowell Gess from Minnesota was here and brought with him IntraOcular lenses of different sizes. Dr. Atima, a young Nigerian eye doctor from Kano Eye Hospital came also. We had spread the word that people who had cataracts should come for surgery. The word spread by word of mouth and the people came from all around for about 100 miles.
Dr. and Mrs. Gess worked at the Guinter Memorial Hospital in Bambur from 1953-1955. Later, they served many years in Sierra Leone. During that time, Dr. Gess, because there was a need, took further training and became an opthamologist. He is a very good doctor. More than that he is an encourager. This man says nothing negative. That is exactly what I needed.
Patients slept outside under the trees and under a carport roof, had their surgery and then spent the recovery time outside again. They literally camped on the clinic grounds wherever they could find a corner. Patients were sheltered under any roof...even this carport. Their families came also and did the nursing care.
The surgery was done inside. In preparation for the eye doctors' visit, workers cemented the carport and enclosed it with grass mats to provide protection from the elements. It really is very nice. Now they need to redo the roof so that rain will drain properly and not leak water. It was great talking to the people who could see again. The implanted lenses worked great! They could see again the same day and no "Coke bottle glasses." The two doctors together put in about 140 lenses in just less than 2 weeks. The staff in the eye program and the operating room crew worked at least 12 hr. per day, sometimes more."
Dr. Gess' has written a book, "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory," about his missionary work in Africa and other underserved countries. His missionary work has spanned more than 50 years.
All these patients received the expert surgery of Dr. Atima. This is a one day's surgery load.
Dr. Arnett has a dream with an actual site picked for a new eye facility that includes an outfitted apartment above the surgery in which future volunteer eye surgeons could conveniently and comfortably stay. For ophthalmologists wanting to spring blind patients into the light of day, the challenge of Zing UMC Eye Clinic in Nigeria awaits them.
Pictures were provided by Lowell A. Gess, M.D.
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