In a meeting facilitated by Njoki Wachira of Seva, Megan Webber, Co-founder of KnowTheGlow, found herself captivated by the story of Dr. Lisbon Aliraki. Their encounter was more than just a professional exchange; it was a meeting of two people deeply committed to transforming lives through eye care.
Dr. Aliraki’s journey into ophthalmology began in 2002 when he was working as a medical officer at Pope John’s Hospital Aber in Northern Uganda. One day, a very skilled and hard-working midwife and a colleague obtained a severe eye injury, and the closest eye clinic was 66 kilometers away. An ambulance was organized to transport the staff the long distance, only to find that the ophthalmologist had traveled for a conference in Kampala the Capital. The patient had to be turned back. Undeterred, the patient was sent almost 300 kilometers to Kampala, ensuring that she received the care she desperately needed. This experience left an indelible mark on him, igniting a passion for eye care that would shape his future.
Determined to make a difference, Dr. Aliraki pursued advanced studies in ophthalmology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and in the capacity as assistant Lecturer in Ophthalmology, earning his Master of Medicine in 2007. After completion, he joined Mbarara University as a full-time lecturer. He recommended mid-level Eye care worker training for Aber Hospital at this time. He continued his education at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he specialized with Master Of Science in biostatistics and epidemiology and returned to continue to lecture until 2014. During this time he occasionally offered clinician support to Ruharo Eye Centre and Benedictine Eye Hospital whenever called upon. Armed with this knowledge, Dr. Aliraki joined Mengo Hospital in Uganda initially as part-time in 2012. But joined Mengo on a full-time basis in 2014 where he quickly rose to the Head of the eye department in 2017. In Eyecare he has been exposed at the University of Vienna Eye Department, the University of Bristol Eye Hospital, and the University of Saarland in pursuit of Anterior segment, Corneal, and Refractive surgery subspecialties.
Under Dr. Aliraki’s leadership, Mengo Hospital’s Eye Clinic has become the largest of its kind in Uganda. The clinic, founded in 1990, has flourished thanks largely to a partnership with the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) and individuals like Dr. J.D. Bonner, USA, and Dr. Rawman from Switzerland, who have provided critical resources and support. Despite being a private, nonprofit institution, Mengo Hospital is committed to making its services accessible to all, including those living in remote areas where they face significant barriers to care.
As a clinician, Dr Aliraki is a full-service Ophthalmologist managing and performing various Eye operations, participating in research, and consulting for various children’s eye conditions. He has been directly in charge of managing the Paediatric and Strabismus Clinic in Mengo since 2016. He has years of experience in medical and surgical management of strabismus. This is done in a well-established strabismus/squint clinic adjacent to a low-vision clinic with a Full-time orthoptist. The clinic also has additional support from the Senior orthoptist, Refractionist, and Optician Mrs. Gesine Schwerdffeger who regularly visits from Germany.
As Dr. Aliraki shared his story with Megan, she was moved by his dedication to reaching underserved populations, particularly children. His passion for expanding eye care services in Uganda was evident as he spoke about the challenges his team faces, from limited resources to the lack of widespread knowledge about eye screenings. Yet, Dr. Aliraki’s resolve remains unshaken. He and his team have implemented innovative solutions, such as mobile clinics, to bring care directly to those who need it most.
Looking ahead, he and his team were very excited by what KnowTheGlow was doing. According to Dr. Aliraki, Mengo’s static Eye Hospital, Mobile clinic, and offering surgical camps won’t be adequate to addressing the Eye Health Challenge in Uganda alone and he is eager to explore new partnerships and initiatives, including the use of emerging technologies like the Arclight scope and telemedicine. His vision for the future includes completing, equipping, and making operation-ready Uganda’s first Eye Bank/Corneal center housed in the New Mengo Eye Complex to address corneal blindness, expanding Mengo Hospital’s reach, opening additional centers in areas where blindness is more prevalent, cementing research for evidence-based practice in Eye Care, and ensuring that every child in Uganda has access to life-changing eye care to bring joy to families and communities all over the nation.
For Megan, meeting Dr. Aliraki was a poignant reminder of the power of collaboration in the fight against preventable blindness. His unwavering commitment to his patients, colleagues, and his community left a lasting impression, reinforcing her belief that together, they can bring light to every corner of this great country.
