Prevent Blindness, Social Affairs Minister Organizes Free Cataract Surgery in Palembang

PALEMBANG (November 24, 2023) - The Ministry of Social Affairs together with the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association (Perdami) held a free cataract surgery at Mohammad Hoesin Hospital, Palembang, South Sumatra.

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini said that her party had received 101 patients who participated in cataract surgery activities from Friday to Saturday, November 24-25, 2023.

According to her, South Sumatra is the province with the third highest blindness rate in Indonesia after East Java and West Nusa Tenggara.

"Today's activity has approximately 101 patients. Held 2 days of surgery, and next week there is also an initiative from Perdami for this activity because it is quite high in South Sumatra," said the Minister when giving a statement to the media, on Friday (11/24).

In line with this cataract surgery, the Minister said that the priority task of the Ministry of Social Affairs is to carry out handling to prevent people from becoming blind or having a disability. Because it is also a state loss if they experience blindness.

"It is because they will not be productive (due to blindness) and their families also have to take care of them and it makes them not productive. So that is considered a state loss and it can be trillion rupiahs. That is why we (Ministry of Social Affairs) have to do this (cataract surgery) quickly so that it will not too late," she said.

For information, this free cataract surgery is organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with various parties, especially the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association (Perdami), Mohammad Hoesin Hospital, and social institutions such as YPP SCTV Indosiar.

During a dialog with the participants, many of them wanted the cataract surgery to continue. To that end, the Minister promised to conduct a free cataract surgery program for the whole of Indonesia.

"But next month we will do it throughout Indonesia," she concluded.