Social Affairs Minister Risma Alleviates Poverty Through Free Cataract Surgery

BARITO KUALA (June 13, 2024) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini continues to intensify efforts to alleviate poverty through free cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is a priority for the Ministry of Social Affairs because if treated late, sufferers can experience blindness which leads to decreased productivity and income.

“If they have no income, they have the potential to become poor. That is the business of the Ministry of Social Affairs. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs anticipates and prevents blindness through cataract surgery activities, so that people are always healthy and productive,” said Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini when reviewing the implementation of free cataract surgery in Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday (12/6).

Social Affairs Minister Risma also reminded us that cataract surgery is not a major operation so people do not need to worry. Moreover, the operation is carried out by specialist doctors who are very skilled in their fields. Nevertheless, Social Affairs Minister Risma reminded that for the results of the operation to be optimal, after undergoing surgery, patients are temporarily prohibited from lifting heavy items, bending over, and washing their faces with water.

The cataract surgery held in Barito Kuala Regency is one of a series of Ministry of Social Affairs events at the Social Service held in South Kalimantan. A total of 320 people have participated in free cataract surgery at the H. Abdul Aziz Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Barito Kuala. All participants who took part in cataract surgery had gone through various screening stages such as screening for sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and biometrics.  At the initial stage, the Ministry of Social Affairs team opened registration and gathered 415 people from various districts in South Kalimantan. After health screening and biometric screening, 320 people qualified to undergo cataract surgery.

One of the patients who underwent cataract surgery, Nursyamsi (33), a resident of Wanaraya Subdistrict, said that he had a pterygium in his left eye since 2 years ago which caused blurred vision, especially at night. This condition is quite disruptive to his work as a driver because he has to drive for 8 hours from Banjarmasin city to Kotabaru every day. When he learned about free cataract surgery, Nursyamsi immediately registered with the community health center and underwent screening until he was declared eligible for cataract surgery. “Thank you Ministry of Social Affairs, hopefully my vision will be restored,” said Nursyamsi.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has performed free cataract surgery on 9,110 people in various regions such as East Java, Papua, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and North Aceh. The details, in 2022 as many as 724 people underwent cataract surgery, in 2023 as many as 6,012 people, and in 2024 as many as 2,374 people. In the implementation of cataract surgery this time, the Ministry of Social Affairs collaborated with the Erha Clinic Foundation, the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association (Perdami) Center, Perdami South Kalimantan, and the H. Abdul Aziz Hospital Doctor team. The Ministry of Social Affairs brought in 6 ophthalmologists from the Center, 3 ophthalmologists from Banjarmasin, and 1 ophthalmologist from Barito Kuala.