The doctor of an eye camp changed the world of Hanifa and Jalil when he suggested immediate operation for their cataract. Their father, a day-labourer, rushed them to Islamia Eye Hospital in the capital accordingly.

"No-one was happier than I once my children got back their eyesight," said Hannan Sarker, who also finds the cost of the operation is too small compared to the benefit achieved.

Now their days are filled with happiness, but the situation was totally different seven years ago.

Hanifa was a student of class five when darkness came down on her in a stroke of fate, putting an end to her education life.

Her father tried his best to cure her blindness. Living hand to mouth, he had already spent Tk 1.5 lakh for his two children, but without success.

When an organisation called 'Child Sight Foundation (CSF)' opened an eye camp in Ishwardi recently, Hannan rushed there with a renewed hope. A CSF eye specialist examined his 16-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son and advised immediate cataract surgery in their eyes.

The father then managed money and took his children to Islamia Eye Hospital in Dhaka where they underwent operation, which restored their vision.

The CSF organised the eye camp titled 'Free Eye Examination and Treatment Programme for Blind Children' at the School Health Centre in Pabna on June 7. Solim, a 13-year-old boy born blind, came to the camp for treatment. The doctors said his eyes could be cured if operated on. Solim's uncle Abdus Sattar said he would take the boy to BNSB Eye Hospital in Sirajganj for an operation.

The eye camp was financed by International Centre for Eye Health, London and Muslim Aid, UK.

"One in every three blind children in Bangladesh could get back their vision through cataract surgery," said Shehab Chowdhoury, programme organiser of the CSF.

Before forming the CSF, its Founder-President Dr MA Muhit conducted a three-year research in the country from 2001 with the assistance from International Centre for Eye Health, London. Later, he established the CSF on the basis of his findings of extensive research on childhood blindness.

Dr Muhit said there are about 40,000 blind children in Bangladesh. Of them, 12,000 are cataract blind, which is curable. So far, the CSF has identified 3,600 blind children aged up to 15 years, he added.

But most parents of blind children are reluctant to take them to hospital despite assurance of free operation, he said.

"If the conscious people in villages come forward to raise awareness about the issue, we will be able to help restore vision of the children born blind through our programme," said Dr Muhit.