Aram the Shepherd

Shepherd Can Tend to Sheep Again Thanks to Surgery

Living in the Movses village of the Tavush province, Aram has been a shepherd for more than 70 years. But, as is common among the elderly in Armenia, Aram’s vision began to get blurred and hazy — the first signs of cataract — and as time passed he lost the sight in his left eye. Tending to his sheep became very difficult for the shepherd and he had to use a stick to walk.

Aram could not afford to travel to Yerevan for cataract surgery, but, fortunately, our Mobile Eye Hospital made a visit to Aram’s village and he was finally able to have the surgery he needed to restore his sight.

It takes two years for the Mobile Eye Hospital to make one full rotation of Armenia and visit all its villages. As a result, patients must often wait a year or more for treatment.

However, with the launching of our Five-for-Five Campaign — developing five Regional Eye Clinics throughout Armenia for $5 million — people will soon have access to eye care and surgery at all times. Aram, the charming sheep-keeper, is now able to see following his cataract surgery and enjoys herding his cherished animals again.