Humanitarian Icon Provides Free Eye and Hernia Surgeries in Bombali District

A development partner and humanitarian leader, Dr. Roland Turay, provided free eye and hernia surgeries on Friday, October 11th, 2024, to dozens of residents in Bombali District. The beneficiaries, mostly farmers and traders, had long struggled with health issues due to limited access to adequate medical care, resigning themselves to lives of visual impairment and painful hernias with little hope of relief.

Most of the patients, drawn from Maboroba Village and surrounding communities, were transported to Branda Medical Centre in Makeni City for the life-changing surgeries. The group included men, women, and youth who had been suffering without access to treatment.

When this press visited Branda Medical Centre, many recovered patients expressed their gratitude to Dr. Roland for his transformative assistance. Pa Ishmael Sesay, a 67-year-old hernia patient, shared his heartfelt thanks, explaining that before the surgery, he had given up hope, as he had no one to cover the expenses. “But today, here I am, well and strong,” he said, urging his community to offer prayers for Dr. Roland.

Similarly, Mammy Isatu Bangura, who had previously undergone hernia surgery with family support, shared that her family refused to help her this time, suspecting witchcraft. “I was waiting to die because the pain was unbearable,” she said, calling Dr. Roland a Godsend for providing the surgery she never thought possible.

Kemoh S. Kamara, a 25-year-old patient, praised Dr. Roland as a savior for those in dire situations. “When we return to Maboroba Village, we will gather at the village square to read the Holy Quran for his protection and God’s blessings,” Kemoh said joyfully.

Dr. Roland, when contacted, announced his intention to conduct 10,000 free eye and hernia surgeries nationwide, all at Branda Medical Centre in Makeni.