Despite heavy rains and a damaged bridge that made the village difficult to access, an outreach in Mbalachanda Village, northern Malawi, still reached a number of families in need of care.
KTG volunteer Issah Ahmed joined a team organized by CBM (Christian Blind Mission) and Saint John of God College of Health Sciences, who routinely visit remote communities to support children living with epilepsy and other mental health conditions. During the visit, caregivers received medications, follow-up support, and hands-on guidance on physiotherapy they can continue at home.
Although fewer school children were available for screening due to the access challenges, Issah used the opportunity to engage parents and guardians directly. He addressed minor eye conditions and introduced a practical session on identifying the “white glow” (leukocoria) using smartphone flashlights and photographs.
With many caregivers already owning smartphones, this simple approach resonated, shifting detection from something that only happens in clinics to something families can actively do themselves. The discussion focused on what the glow can indicate, including retinoblastoma, and why early detection can change outcomes for a child.
This outreach is a reminder that even within other health missions, there is space to integrate eye health in a practical, low-resource way, and reach families who might otherwise be missed.
We appreciate the work Issah is doing to raise awareness and we look forward to more interaction with him.
