January and February 2020 - webnews

Sioni

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Sioni means 'I can't see' in Kiswalili!

This child has been blind since she was tiny. Her dad is a herbalist and tried everything he could think of to help his daughter see, but nothing worked.

One day her mum was at work weaving baskets when she heard her friends talking about an eye screening being carried out by Kwale Eye Centre near their village. The family hotly debated whether they should break ancient tradition and bring her to the screening. Finally her dad declared, "She is blind anyway, let her go, what can they do which is worse than that?"

Sioni was found to have cataract, and after a simple operation she can see and is a changed person. Having felt useless and a burden for so long, she actually enjoys helping her mum with the chores. We hope that soon she will be sent to school to get an education.

Sioni and her mum

Sioni can now help with the chores