Every Saturday for the past three years, Dr. Yonas Alemu has done something extraordinary: he has given his day off to restore sight to the blind.
A specialist ophthalmologist at Yekatit 12 Hospital, Dr. Yonas first learned about Babul Keyer USA when the organization approached his hospital about a partnership for eye care outreach. The need was overwhelming – hundreds of elderly Ethiopians suffering from preventable blindness, unable to afford the surgery that would restore their sight.
"I had performed thousands of cataract surgeries, but always in the hospital setting with patients who could pay," Dr. Yonas reflects. "When I learned about the people waiting in darkness because they couldn't afford care, I knew I had to help."
Dr. Yonas began volunteering his services through Babul Keyer USA, performing surgeries on weekends and during his limited free time. Working alongside a dedicated team, he has now restored sight to 400 individuals.
"The moment when we remove the bandages after surgery is the most beautiful moment in medicine," he says, his eyes lighting up. "To see someone who has been blind for years look at their grandchild's face for the first time – there is no greater reward."
One patient, an 82-year-old grandmother named Askale, had been blind for five years. She couldn't recognize her children, couldn't move safely, couldn't cook. After Dr. Yonas performed her surgery, she wept with joy.
"She grabbed my hands and wouldn't let go," he remembers. "She kept saying, 'I can see, I can see!' In that moment, I wasn't just a doctor – I was part of a miracle."
Dr. Yonas continues to volunteer, often bringing colleagues from the hospital to join him. "One doctor can only do so much," he explains. "But if I can inspire others to give their time, together we can eliminate preventable blindness in our community."
