Al-Shifa Trust surgeons remove eye tumor in cross-border care.
TARIQ KHATTAK
RAWALPINDI
Surgeons at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital have removed a massive congenital eye tumour from a six-year-old Somali girl, preventing the growth from spreading to her brain after years of unsuccessful treatment attempts abroad.
The child, Nimoh, was born with a tumour affecting one eye. According to hospital officials, her family sought medical help in multiple countries but could not access definitive treatment. By the time she reached Rawalpindi, prolonged irritation and repeated rubbing had worsened the condition, and doctors determined that vision in the affected eye had already been permanently lost.
Dr Tayyab Afgani, head of the hospital’s oculoplastics department, said the tumour had expanded steadily and posed a life-threatening risk. “Removing the mass was essential to prevent further spread and potentially fatal complications,” he said.
A multidisciplinary surgical team carried out a complex procedure to remove the tumour, working around delicate nerves and blood vessels. The operation was completed without major complications. Afghani confirmed that the immediate threat to her life has been eliminated, and she remains under post-operative observation.
Dr Tayyab Afgani said cases reflect the consequences of delayed access to specialised care. According to the World Health Organisation, at least 2.2 billion people worldwide live with some form of vision impairment, with the majority residing in low and middle-income countries where specialist services are limited. In South Asia and parts of Africa, untreated childhood eye conditions continue to contribute to preventable blindness.
Hospital officials said the family approached Al-Shifa after learning about its ocular oncology services. The institution, a non-profit network, provides care to a large proportion of patients at no cost through donor funding. About 80 percent of patients across its facilities receive free treatment.
Nimoh is recovering well, doctors said, and will continue follow-up care in the coming weeks. For her family, the surgery marks the first sustained medical breakthrough after years of uncertainty.
