KUCHING: Another 39 residents, this time from 20 longhouses located along Jalan Bukut in Balingian, will undergo visual rehabilitation for cataracts.
They have been diagnosed with having cataracts in a programme coordinated by Sarawak Energy with volunteers from Mukah Hospital in a two-day exercise on April 13 and 14.
The residents were among the 130 from the longhouses who had been screened for signs of visual impairments.
They were later referred for detailed examination sometime in July.
Symptoms of cataract may include faded colours, blurry or double vision, halos around light, trouble with bright lights, and trouble seeing at night.
Sarawak Energy conducted the exercise following the success of its “Eye Vision programme for Better Living in the Rural Community” for Kapit and Baleh sometime in 2017.
Then, 86 individuals had benefitted from the initiative.
Sarawak Energy’s corporate social responsibility and sustainability general manager Jiwari Abdullah described the programme as a worthy social investment.
“Cataract surgery is becoming more accessible and we are pleased to be able to extend this programme to the communities in Balingian.
“Under this programme, the residents do not have to pay anything, and this can come as a relief for those who cannot afford treatments.”
The CSR Eye Vision Programme for Better Living in the Rural Community was awarded Gold under Best Community Programme category at the 10th Annual Global CSR Awards held in Lombok, Indonesia last year.
Sarawak Energy will be collaborating with the Ophthalmology Department of Sarawak, Klinik Katarak Malaysia and hospitals for the programme.
