Africa-Press – Cape verde. The humanitarian mission of the Vida e Saúde Association on Boa Vista Island concluded its week of activities with an “extremely positive” outcome, having provided assistance to 448 residents and identified the need for 306 pairs of eyeglasses.
In an interview with Inforpress, the head of the association, Cindy Pinto, stated that the population’s participation exceeded logistical expectations, resulting in a massive demand that, although satisfactory, left some residents without consultations due to time constraints.
“In one week, 448 people were able to have a consultation. Our priority now is the delivery of the 306 eyeglasses already prescribed, a process that should be completed within three months,” explained the head, already confirming the intention to return to the island in 2027.
In turn, the association’s secretary and health technician, Gougis Gwendoline, expressed concern about the overall health situation on the island.
According to him, the consultations detected serious pathologies that extend beyond the ophthalmological area, such as a high incidence of hypertension and severe vitamin deficiencies in children.
“We realized there is a gap in healthcare in Boa Vista. People depend heavily on doctors who come from Praia, and this is complicated for the country’s third largest island,” warned Gougis Gwendoline, advocating for the retention of resident doctors and specialists in pediatrics and surgery.
“For next time, our goal is to intervene more with children and bring more medical supplies,” he promised.
In terms of operational aspects and given the scenario encountered, the organization admitted the need to adjust the intervention model for future missions.
“The work was intense and tiring. For the future, the idea is to divide the mission into phases, with more time dedicated to each area to ensure we can cover everyone,” explained team member Eugénio Gomes, justifying that the schedule proved tight given the needs of the population.
Despite the fatigue expressed by the team, which was supported by French students and volunteers, the Vida e Saúde Association described the initiative as a “super exciting adventure” and thanked the Boa Vista City Hall and local health authorities for their partnership.
The association informed that it will keep the public updated on the delivery of the glasses and the next steps of this cooperation through its digital platforms.
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