The new complex of South Sudan's main referral hospital /Lou Nelson/Eye Radio

Juba-based charity organization Phillip Tongun Foundation is conducting free eye examinations and surgeries at Juba Teaching Hospital.

The initiative targeting 100 cataract patients, will be done in remembrance of the life and legacy of the late Dr. Philip Tongun, and his immense contribution to the medical field in South Sudan.

Emmanuel Phillip Tongun, the late’s son and founder, and managing director of Dr. Philip’s Tongun Foundation, He says the four-day service to operate cataract-related eye illnesses commenced in Juba.

“This is the commemoration, and we normally do it every year, looking at the eye side is one of the bigger tropical diseases that we have in South Sudan,” Emmanuel said.

Dr. Phillip is a veteran pharmaceutical doctor, who has served for four decades in Juba, from 1974 until his death in 2014.

Emmanuel told Eye Radio that the free service is part of a cooperate social responsibility of the Dr. Philip Tongun Foundation.

“So we have been doing it normally at Buluk, but now because of the new center that open at Juba Teaching Hospital, now we are doing it over there, we did last year.

According to him, they have so far confirmed 32 people with the cataract disease and are undergoing surgery.

“There are many people already as of yesterday 10 am o’clock, it was at least 32 people confirmed with cataracts, so they start the surgery as much earlier, and therefore today the operations start this morning. But at the same time, there will be also screening on going also.”

Eye ailments such as cataracts and glaucoma are some of the common tropical diseases affecting people – leading to blindness in South Sudan.