Last year one of our reporters from Berbera had written an interesting article on Jamhuuriya news paper. It was of course a matter of trust and understanding and this also goes to prove the fact that our reporters and writers of the news papers are honest and have no boundary. I was trying to quote this fantastic story to my colleague readers but could not. Fortunately, last week while I was filing some of my old news papers of Jamhuuriya, Haatuf, The republican and the Somaliland Times I found the article again. In his article the reporter narrated a short interview which he had with an old woman caleed Dahabo, who had an eye operation at Borama general Hospital last year.

"I am all fine, and can see well, thank you". she responded ."Do you have any suggestions to say?" again the reporter asked. "Oh yes, I have very much longed to meet a good reporter/writer whom I can inform some of my burning issue, interrupted the reporter. “Thank you, I feel very exhausted and frustrating I can't decide which issue to select, but to make a long story short - I would be very happy if my husband, who is one of our high official authorities in Somaliland , accepts an operation of his 3rd eye?" "What, his third eye? Can you please elaborate what all this mean? We do have naturally 2 eye, by the third eye." "I mean an eye which my husband can see well on the public sector." The old woman concluded.

It is particularly pleased that our local news reporters/writers can now write articles of appreciation what our local doctors are doing, and I wish to thank the reporter of Berbera Mahamed Biid of this vital part of the task. I also thank the old woman who had indirectly showed the community how fair and smooth Borama eye screening ends every yea, and this of course helped us to see beyond.

Thank you again for the amazing article and of course it was an issue which inspired me and I hope it did so to many others. Also this article had shed some light on the career I have chosen and encouraged me to work hard. Of course such life stories give clear picture of what and how our health staffs are doing and I think you provided a pretty good coverage of the hard work and the effort we contribute to the eye camp. It was true that compliments and congratulations do make people feel good and happy and your article had made realize that work indeed is very precious and encouraged us to lead a meaningful life.

To highlight some of the important steps we do during the eye screening:

Announcement: the eye camp is advertised at Radio Hargeysa and is publicized all the local news papers.

Other advertised written papers are put on the private transportation vehicles going through Somaliland and the neighboring countries. When the patients come for eye screening, they usually pass 3 stations;

1. The first station: in this station patients have to pay a small fee for their screening

2. the 2nd station: is where patients’ vision is checked, at this station a standard test of different sizes of letter E and facing different directions is used, and the patient indicates with his own hand the direction of E.

3. The 3rd station: is the examination with eye doctor. Here full examination of the eye is done. Among the screened patients there are criteria of selected, those who have vision of less than 6 steps are put in the operation register, while those with better vision are advised to show up on the next visit.

Strangely enough it is found that some patients who had a good vision try to cheat the health staff when checking vision but are repelled by the eye doctor during the examination. I also understand that the majority of the patients have one major fear, and that is the fear to become blind. There are also many patients who hesitate and are not sure if such a simple instrument loupe and the ophthalmoscope which I use are of significant important in diagnosing an eye problem. Of course, there is much sophisticated instrument which can often obscure the fundamental (basic) unchanging facts and the principle of a certain disease. I have to note also that a constant observation of the normal eye will easily lead to rapid identification of abnormality. I find by experience that I can help people in this way and I feel happy because most of the people do encourage me to go ahead with this system.

Thank you again for enlightening us on this issue. Your article has made us realize that work is indeed very precious and encouraged us to lead a meaningful life.

May Allah help those who help themselves