Riau Police Lead Free Cataract Surgeries for 310 Residents

A significant initiative has provided 310 residents of Riau Province, Indonesia, with free cataract surgeries, aiming to overcome barriers to essential eye care. The program, a collaborative effort involving the Riau Regional Police, Awal Bros Hospital, the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association (Perdami) Riau-Kepri, and the Sekar Ayu Jiwanta Foundation, took place at Awal Bros Hospital Panam in Pekanbaru.

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Today we are strengthening one very important value, namely human solidarity. The best humans are those who benefit others. Therefore, this activity is not just about medical operations, but how to bring back hope for our brothers and sisters.

Kapolda Riau Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the operation, stating it offers more than just medical treatment; it restores hope for those with vision impairment. "The best humans are those who benefit others," Herry said, underscoring the solidarity demonstrated by the initiative. He shared a personal reflection on the value of sight, gained from accompanying his father during religious pilgrimage, highlighting how visual impairment significantly impacts daily life.

"Today, we are bringing happiness to them and their families," Herry remarked, noting that the ability to see clearly again allows individuals to regain independence, become more productive, and enjoy life more fully. This, he added, is the true meaning of service to others.

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I personally felt how someone has to carry out activities with limitations because they cannot see well. Therefore, when today 310 people get the chance to see the world more clearly again, we are actually bringing happiness to them and their families.

The high number of participants underscores a persistent need for accessible eye health services in the region. Emi Wiranto, Chairwoman of the Sekar Ayu Jiwanta Foundation, stated that cataract surgery is a direct intervention that significantly enhances quality of life. "We believe that goodness must be realized in concrete actions," Wiranto said, expressing her foundation's commitment to collaborating with various parties to deliver programs that directly benefit the community.

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When a person can see again, they can be more independent in their activities, become productive again, and enjoy life better. This is the true meaning of service to others.

Wiranto added that the foundation's success is measured not just by the number of surgeries performed, but by the restored happiness and hope of the participants as they regain their sight and reconnect with their families and daily lives.

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We believe that goodness must be realized in concrete actions. Through this collaboration, we want to help people who have been living with visual impairment so that they can see again and live better lives.