When the light returns
With thousands of eye surgeries, doctors offer not just sight but build a bright bond between two nations
As of May, the total number of cataract surgeries performed across all five countries had reached 20,000. In Djibouti alone, the Shanxi medical team has conducted eye screenings for 7,741 people and successfully restored sight to 4,649 cases — all free of charge.
The Jincheng Eye Hospital in Jincheng, Shanxi, recently received a heartfelt letter of appreciation from officials in Tadjourah, Djibouti, commending the hospital's medical team for its exceptional service during the fifth Shanxi medical aid mission.
Between April and May, the hospital sent a team of eight medical professionals to Tadjourah, where they screened 1,035 patients and performed 601 free cataract surgeries, restoring sight to hundreds. In their spare time, the team members visited local schools to provide free eye health consultations and vision screenings for students — extending their care to the wider community.
"These surgeries did not just restore vision — they restored patients' dignity and independence," the governor of Tadjourah wrote, noting that the team's efforts had made a lasting impact on public health in the region.
