Indonesia-UAE Launch Free Cataract Surgeries for Remote Areas

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have strengthened their bilateral ties through a health initiative that provides free cataract surgeries for 500 residents in Indonesia's underdeveloped, frontline, and outermost (3T) regions. Supported by a grant of 294,222 Dirhams from the UAE-based Noor Dubai Foundation, the program targets citizens who face significant geographical barriers to accessing specialized medical facilities.

Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono said on Friday, April 24, 2026, that this collaboration is a concrete step to ensure that no citizen loses their productive potential due to treatable vision impairment. He emphasized that the partnership, which has been in development since 2025, serves as a foundation for future long-term ocular health programs across the archipelago.

"Through this surgery, we hope patients can see the world clearly again. This is a simple hope about experiencing a better quality of life for our community," Dante remarked during a visit to the Vision Center in Kapuas, Central Kalimantan, as quoted by Antara.

The initiative follows rigorous safety protocols involving a two-stage screening process. Initially, community health workers identify residents with vision complaints. Subsequently, a team of experts from the Indonesian Association of Ophthalmologists (PERDAMI) conducts comprehensive examinations, including blood sugar checks and eye measurements, to ensure patients are fit for surgery and receive the correct intraocular lens implants.

To address the uneven distribution of specialists, the government also plans to integrate remote medical consultation technology, allowing residents in isolated areas to receive real-time examinations from specialists in central hospitals. National data highlights the urgency of such programs, revealing that 6 percent of the 21 million citizens screened so far exhibit vision impairments requiring clinical intervention.

The social mission is currently centered in Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, a location chosen specifically for its geographical challenges. As of late April 2026, the program has successfully reached 200 patients in Central Kalimantan, with an additional 150 surgeries scheduled each for West and East Nusa Tenggara.

These efforts are part of a broader national target to restore vision and improve the economic resilience of communities in Indonesia’s most remote territories. ***