HLUN 2026 in NTT: Hundreds of Elderly Receive Free Cataract Surgeries
The programme, which took place from 31 May to 1 June 2026, reached participants from the Ende, Nagekeo, and Ngada Regencies. A total of 339 individuals underwent initial registration and screening; of these, 181 participants were deemed eligible for surgery, while 158 were excluded due to medical considerations.
As of 1 June 202ly, 180 patients successfully underwent cataract surgery. This group comprised 135 patients from Ende Regency, 37 from Nagekeo, and 8 from Ngada. One participant was unable to proceed with the surgery due to medical reasons.
For many participants, this service represents a hope to regain independence in their daily activities after years of vision impairment. One participant, 70-year-old Adinua from Nagekeo, shared that her blurred vision had severely limited her mobility. She expressed gratitude for the programme, noting that the Ministry of Social Affairs provided transportation, accommodation, and meals for those travelling from afar.
To ensure the comfort of the elderly, the Ministry of Social Affairs provided full logistical support, including transport from their home regions to the service locations. Additionally, all participants who underwent screening received Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) in the form of basic food packages, with 338 packages distributed to those registered in the national social welfare database (DTSEN).
The implementation of the programme received support from various parties, including the Disaster Preparedness Volunteers (TAGANA), Family Hope Programme (PKH) facilitators, and the Ende Regency Social Services Office. Volunteers assisted with the mobility of the elderly within the Ende Regional General Hospital (RSUD Ende), navigating the facility’s challenging terrain to assist wheelchair users.
Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, emphasised that National Elderly Day serves as a momentum to strengthen the commitment to honouring the elderly. He stated that the elderly should not be viewed as a burden on development, but rather as an essential part of society that must be protected and empowered. He further noted that the entire series of HLUN 2026 activities is a form of state respect towards the elderly.
The cataract surgeries in Ende are part of a broader series of services held across East Nusa Tenggara throughout May and June 2026. In addition to surgeries, the government provided health check-ups, physiotherapy, accessibility aids, home care services, and economic empowerment programmes. As of 1 June 2026, the HLUN 2026 series has reached 7,930 beneficiaries across NTT, with 2,208 individuals receiving cataract surgery services specifically.