Dawoodi Bohra community members under the banner of Project Rise conducted a three-day eye screening and surgery camp in the rural village of Ipole, Tabora Region, in Tanzania.
The camp was held at Mazinge Hospital in Sikonge and provided critical eye care to over 600 individuals from nearby villages. The initiative, part of a broader effort to fight preventable blindness, included screenings, free spectacles, medications, and life-changing cataract surgeries.
Dr Husein Tayabji, one of the volunteer surgeons, shared, “We witnessed a huge unmet need for eye care. Some patients walked over 10 kilometers just for a chance to regain their sight. It shows how critical outreach like this is for rural communities.”
The camp’s ophthalmic team conducted 85 surgeries, including 80 successful cataract procedures, at Mazinge Hospital in Sikonge, located 12 kilometers from Ipole. More than 500 patients received essential medications, and 250 were given prescription glasses on-site.
“I had lost hope of ever seeing again,” shared 68-year-old patient Mzee Haruna. “After my cataract surgery, I can finally see my grandchildren’s faces. It feels like a miracle.”
The initiative received strong community support, with local leaders and health workers praising its impact.
“We are humbled by the support brought by Project Rise. This initiative has touched every family here. Our people now see a brighter future—literally,” said Mwenyekiti wa Kijiji cha, the village leader of Ipole.
“The sheer burden of preventable blindness we witnessed here is heartbreaking. But what’s more inspiring is how much can be done with a small, focused effort,” continued Tayyabji.
A 16 year old student, Amina, shared, “I couldn’t read in school. With my new glasses, I can finally follow what my teacher writes. This will change my future.”
The camp was organized in collaboration with Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, TAMISEMI, Tabora Regional Health Authority, and Sikonge District leadership. The camp also featured counselling sessions on eye hygiene and preventive care for all attendees.
“The joy in the eyes of a patient regaining vision is unmatched. These camps are not just about surgery, they are about restoring dignity and hope,” said Dr Mustafa Yusufali, another surgeon on the team.
The initiative is inspired by the guidance of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin to improve the quality of life in underserved communities. Over the past year, volunteers have mobilised themselves under this vision to host diabetes and kidney medical camps in different parts of Tanzania along with a multi-specialty camp in Ethiopia — bringing critical medical intervention and help improve lives.