Karamoja, Uganda – 2025 – After years of tireless advocacy and dedicated service in clinical eye care and public health, Dr. Gladys Atto, an ophthalmologist and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) alumna, is finally witnessing a transformative shift in eye health awareness across the Karamoja subregion.
For years, Dr. Atto ventured into remote communities, searching for patients in need of critical eye surgeries. Today, she sees the tide turning. Patients are no longer waiting for outreach teams to find them—they are actively making the journey to hospitals for treatment.
"What I’m witnessing in Karamoja this year is what I have been advocating for over the past several years: patients leaving their homes and coming for eye surgery instead of me searching for them," she shared with joy.
This paradigm shift is evident in her hospital's increasing surgical caseload. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, her operating theater is busy, yet she hasn’t conducted a single outreach since her return. Just this past weekend, a group of eight patients from Kaabong traveled miles and slept at the hospital, determined to receive eye surgery the next day.
"When I reviewed them, I was all smiles. I was really happy. Seeing people take their eye health seriously—choosing to spend their hard-earned money on transport to get care—fills my heart with joy. It’s not about the money; it’s about empowerment."
Dr. Atto wonders if she is celebrating too soon. "Do they think I might disappear again?" she ponders. But one thing is clear—the shift she has long fought for is beginning to take root.
With increasing patient awareness and proactive healthcare-seeking behavior, Karamoja’s eye health landscape is transforming. And for Dr. Atto, this might just be the sign that her mission is finally achieving lasting impact.