Suharni's Story

Suharni is the matriarch in her family. Though she cannot read and write, she worked hard to make ends meet and support her family in Lombok, Indonesia.

After working in Saudi Arabia for almost five years as a cook, and then as a school cleaner, she returned home to Indonesia.

But four years ago the 78-year-old started losing sight due to cataracts in both eyes. Suharni couldn’t walk by herself and could only sit at home and she relied on her family to move around the house and do the simplest tasks.

Thankfully, a cataract surgery from an outreach program supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation four years ago restored her sight and transformed her life. 

Today Suharni can move around the house and cooking and clean – but she has also regained what gives her a sense of fulfilment – providing for her family.

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

“After my operation, I was so happy because I can do anything on my own now, I am independent. I can go anywhere.”

Suharni was reunited with the health workers who helped her access treatment. She hugged them when they visited her house.

She proudly showed the health workers her office where she spends the day weaving fabrics that she sells to the neighbors and sometimes in the market.

The profit she makes from weaving contributes to the family’s income.“My husband cannot work now. We depend on my income, and I also take care of the house.”

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

Suharni can also return to farming rice and picking fruits like papaya and coconut from her garden, selling the excess to earn extra income.

“I harvested eight bags of rice recently for my family. This is the result of my eye surgery.”

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

She lives with her youngest son and helps take care of her grandchildren. Suharni no longer needs her family to look after her, so her other children are now working abroad to provide for their own families and send their children to school.

“They do not have to worry about me, they can focus on their own life.

“Before, they needed to take care of me, now, they can focus on their own families. I am
independent.”

Suharni recently joined her family on a trip to the base camp of Mount Rinjani, where she picked strawberries with her grandchildren.

For Suharni’s son Budiman, surgery has given his mother a new life.

“I hope The Foundation can continue to support other people like my mother because I believe there are many others in Indonesia who also need help.”

Suharni’s transformation also helped raise awareness about the importance of eye health in her community.

After experiencing the difference that treatment made in her own life, she encouraged her sister and neighbors to have their eyes checked. They recently underwent cataract surgery and can now see clearly.

Suharni cried tears of joy as she spoke about how the surgery had transformed her life.

“I am sorry I cannot repay the supporters with anything because I do not have much money. I do not know how to repay you. All I can do is thank you”

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

Suharni’s sight was restored thanks to the Indonesia Comprehensive Community Eye Care project.

The project supported local health authorities to strengthen eye health services and infrastructure, helping deliver high-quality, affordable and accessible eye care services across West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province.

Building on the lessons and demonstrated success of the project in NTB, The Fred Hollows Foundation Indonesia has expanded its work to strengthen sustainable, equitable and integrated eye health systems across five provinces: West Nusa Tenggara, West Java, Bali, South Sulawesi and North Sumatra.