National

An American charity organisation, Deseret International Charities, has donated a laser machine to Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) making it the second in the country.

The other machine is located in Kabgwayi Hospital, according to Dr Theobald Hategekimana, the Director of CHUK.

This equipment assists opticians in performing laser surgery for eye complications that may lead to blindness. Matthew A. Thomas, a Clinical Ophthalmologist from Washington University in Saint Louis, will spend the next 10 days training local Ophthalmologists how to use it.

He noted that timely laser treatment prevents blindness, adding that Rwanda has over 500,000 diabetics who could be at a risk of getting blind since diabetes causes blindness, he added.

Brad Wilkes, the Country Director of Deseret International Charities, said the laser helps prevent blindness within 5 minutes treatment/surgery.

He added that the INGO will also donate 20,000 reading glasses on top of the 8,000 that have already been given out to prisoners with poor eyesight.

Wilkes added that they will also be starting a programme of supporting Kigali Health Institute in eye care and dental programmes.

Hategekimana also noted that there were only eight Ophthalmologists in the Rwanda.

Deseret International Charities is an NGO funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.