Blindness came slowly for Maggie Mali. It started in her right eye and a few months later, it spread to her left. Despite being blind for over a year, Maggie (75) never stopped praying that she’d regain her sight.
Blindness came slowly for Maggie Mali. It started in her right eye and a few months later, it spread to her left. Despite being blind for over a year, Maggie (75) never stopped praying that she’d regain her sight.
Maggie lives with her husband, two daughters and six other people in a five room house on Woodlands Farm in Southwell. They’ve lived there since 1974.
For the past year, every day has been the same for Maggie. Her daughter Nontembiso Mali (35) wakes her up every morning at 7am. Nontembiso then bathes her and rubs camphor cream all over her body, paying particular attention to her feet.
“She got a foot ulcer in 2007,” Nontembiso explains. “But she’ll survive.”
After washing her mother, Nontembiso makes her porridge. Maggie is diabetic and suffers from high blood pressure so Nontembiso only uses low fat milk. And she never uses salt – or sugar.
To complete the morning’s routine, Nontembiso injects Maggie with insulin. After five minutes, she gives her seven pills, including two for pain. For the rest of the day, Maggie stays indoors and listens to the radio. Her only exercise is the short walk to the toilet outside.
But Maggie’s prayers were answered last week when she underwent two operations to remove the cataracts from her eyes that have caused her to go blind. She underwent surgery on Monday to remove the cataract from her right eye and on Thursday to remove the one in her left eye. To her immense relief, Maggie could see out of each eye within only one day after the operation.
Maggie’s surgery was merely two of the 70 cataract operations performed last week as part of Eye Care Awareness Week at Settlers Hospital.
Dr Danie Louw of Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital says the week was a huge success and that one of the most rewarding aspects was to see how “all the people who were involved with the project could work so well together in their common goal to provide the best possible service to our patients”.
According to the World Health Organisation, in order to eradicate cataract blindness 2000 cataract operations need to be done per year for every one million people. Louw says there are 60 000 people in Makana Municipality who use the public health services. This means that at least 120 cataract operations need to be performed each year to eradicate cataract blindness in the area.
According to Louw, Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital is planning to buy a portable Phacoemulsification eye operating machine, which should ensure that more Makana residents will receive the required treatment in the future.
“It is a well known fact that one of the most powerful ways to increase one’s own happiness is through service to others,” says Louw. “I have been doing eye surgery since 1997, and still the reaction of a patient who through cataract surgery can suddenly see after years of blindness remains the most fulfilling part of my job.”
While Maggie is grateful to have her independence back, she says what she is happiest about is seeing the faces of her family. Earlier this year, her niece gave birth to a baby girl. Maggie was able to see her for the first time last week.
“God sent Dr Louw to this area,” says Nontembiso. “He is like Jesus who healed the people.”
