KIGALI - Rwanda Defence Forces, in conjunction with Prof. Geoffrey Tabin of University of Utah in US, have resumed the subsidised eye care services to optical patients.

The exercise kicked off during Army Week last year by carrying out cornea transplants at King Faisal Hospital in Kigali.

Another phase of surgical treatment kicked off yesterday with 20 patients expected to be operated in the two-day exercise.

The operations are scheduled by be carried out by Prof. Geoffrey Tabin and Maj. Dr. John Nkurikiye of the RDF.

Last year 22 patients received new corneas but the process was halted after the team ran out of corneas (the tissue that covers the front of the eye).  

"This is simply a follow-up of what we did during last year’s army week program. We could not treat everybody and Professor Tabin arranged to bring some more corneas,” Maj. Nkurikiye told The New Times yesterday.

"We have a long list of more than 64 remaining patients and many other people will come when they learn about this operation”.

After this phase another session is set for July.

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