Nyirabazungu Clemantine, from Byimana Village, Nyamirembe Cell, Gatunda Sector in Nyagatare District, is one of the parents whose child was treated at Kabgayi Eye Hospital.
The mother revealed that her child had lived with an eye condition for 10 years, as it started when he was four years old. However, during all those years, she did not know the severity of the condition because she considered it minor.
She said, “From the age of four, my child started showing signs of poor eyesight. Whenever he tried to look at something, he would cover one eye with his hand. If you sent him to fetch something, you could see that he was looking at it but moving his hands around as if feeling his way. We thought he was pretending, but he insisted that he was fine.”
Nyirabazungu added that as Sibomana Theogene grew older, his eyesight continued to worsen, and he began to appear as if he had crossed eyes. “He would look at you using only one eye and close the other. We would ask him, ‘Which eye are you using to see?’ and he would confidently answer, ‘Yes, I can see.’”
The problem continued at school, affecting his studies to the point that he repeated almost three years. He is now in Primary Four, while his classmates have reached Senior Three.
Although Nyirabazungu was aware that her child could not see well, taking him to hospital was challenging due to limited financial resources.
She explained, “I was initially afraid to take him to the hospital. Later, I heard that doctors from Kabgayi were coming to examine patients at Gatunda Hospital. I immediately took him there. They referred us to Kabgayi and informed me that a project would help treat my child free of charge.”
Emotions of Nyirabazungu, whose child was treated at Kabgayi Eye Hospital
When the time came, the family travelled to Kabgayi, and the child received treatment free of charge, as confirmed by Nyirabazungu to ICK News.
She said, “When we arrived at the hospital, they examined him and told me they were going to operate on his eyes. I did not feel worried because I knew my child would be treated well.”
When Sibomana Theogene was taken for surgery, Nyirabazungu remained behind, anxious but trying to stay strong.
She recalled, “When I saw him being taken in, I told myself the doctor would treat him and he would recover. But he stayed inside a little longer than others. I saw other patients leaving while he remained inside. I started thinking, ‘Why is my child taking longer?’ Fear overwhelmed me, and I even asked people nearby, ‘Did it take this long for your children as well?’”
Nyirabazungu felt like she had been given a new life after seeing her child recovered
After seeing her child returned healthy, she was overwhelmed with joy. She took the opportunity to thank Kabgayi Eye Hospital and the See You Foundation for helping treat her child.
She said, “What I can say to the doctors is may God bless you and strengthen you in your work. May He continue to give you the means to follow and help vulnerable people. Some people have the means but cannot access care due to rural mindsets. I also ask you to continue educating them.”
Not only the mother, but Sibomana himself was surprised
In an interview with ICK News, Sibomana, who was treated at Kabgayi Eye Hospital, revealed that after the treatment, he was amazed by the improvement in his vision.
He said, “After they treated my eyes, I noticed something amazing. Things that were difficult to read became easier. I could look at a person and recognize them, whereas before I had to cover one eye or close one eye to read properly.”
The child explained that since school exams were approaching, he was eager to read his books but realized that nearby objects were still difficult to see. The doctors examined him and reassured him that his vision would gradually improve. They also provided him with glasses to help read nearby objects, enabling him to take his exams comfortably.
Dr. Livin Uwemeye, Director of Kabgayi Eye Hospital and the doctor who treated the child, said that they found Sibomana was suffering from cataracts rather than crossed eyes. He explained that although cataracts commonly affect elderly people, some children are born with the condition or develop it at a young age.
He said, “After examining him and confirming that he had cataracts, we operated and implanted an artificial lens. He can now see well as expected, and we are confident he will perform well in school.”
In his message, Dr. Uwemeye called on parents, teachers, and those involved in children’s care and education to pay attention to the health of children’s bodies, especially the eyes, which play a major role in overall development.
He added, “I always tell parents, teachers, and health workers that a child must be monitored throughout life, especially to ensure they can see well, because if they go blind, their life is at serious risk.”
He continued, “That is why we encourage parents to observe their children carefully. If there is any problem, they should go to the doctor early. If detected early, treatment is more effective, but if delayed, results are limited. Early check-ups ensure better health outcomes.”
The See You Foundation project, which provides inclusive healthcare for children under 18 in partnership with Kabgayi Eye Hospital, continues to make a meaningful contribution to preventing blindness, raising awareness, providing glasses for those in need, and treating other eye diseases.