Mrs Mufedeh Salah, Kufer Jamal, January 2012

At the end of January, 2012, 80 year old Mrs Mufedeh Salah presented at our Outreach Clinic when we visited her village, Kufer Jamal, south of Tulkarem. 

Mrs Salah is a widow whose husband died ten years ago and whose four daughters and two sons have all grown up and are married with families of their own. 

Because the old lady’s general health was failing – she suffers from diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and coronary heart disease – she went to live with one of her sons, who must help her with much of her daily activity.

Mrs Salah was brought to our clinic complaining of cloudy vision, which had been plaguing her for a while.  She was also having ocular pain and headaches but, unfortunately, had not sought any medical advice.

After examination we confirmed that she had cataract in both her eyes – but also that she was suffering from severe diabetic retinopathy and that this, in turn, had caused secondary glaucoma.  Our Dr explained to Mrs Salah and her son that her condition was extremely serious and that she would need to be referred to the Jerusalem Hospital where her conditions will require further investigation and much management. 

Indeed, without the accessibility of our doctors coming to her, Mrs Salah might never have disclosed the extent of her suffering and would probably have lost her sight completely. 

Mrs Salah was very grateful to the Outreach Team and thankful that she had had an opportunity to have her condition properly assessed at a location near her home.  Her son promised that he would do as they had been advised and accompany his mother to Jerusalem for her appointment.