With her vision restored after a successful cataract surgery, 80-year-old Mariya Sangare beamed with joy as she prepared to embrace a new chapter in life. Sangare is one of 600 Zimbabwean patients benefiting from the China-aided program, which provides free cataract surgeries.

HARARE, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- With her vision restored after a successful cataract surgery, 80-year-old Mariya Sangare beamed with joy as she prepared to embrace a new chapter in life, thanks to a team of Chinese doctors.

"I can now see everything clearly. There is nothing I cannot see," Sangare said at the official launch of the "Bright Journey" program on Wednesday at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

Sangare is one of 600 Zimbabwean patients benefiting from the China-aided program, which provides free cataract surgeries.

A team of 12 specialists from China's Hunan Provincial People's Hospital has been carrying out the surgeries under the program, which began on Feb. 12. "The Chinese doctors are highly skilled, and we are very happy," Sangare said.

For patients like Sangare, whose lives were hindered by blurred vision, the initiative offers a renewed sense of independence and hope.

"This initiative has helped me a lot. My grandchildren can now eat peanut butter from the peanuts I grow. I could not farm this year because of my cataracts," she said.

Cosmas Chipengo, a 25-year-old recipient of the surgery, said restoring his eyesight means he can now return to work after seven months.

"I want to thank the Chinese doctors because we could not afford the medical expenses. This program has done a great thing for us," he told Xinhua.

Zimbabwean Minister of Health and Child Care Douglas Mombeshora said that preventable blindness from cataracts remains a major public health issue in the country, but the "Bright Journey" program is helping address the challenge.

"This moment represents not merely the commencement of a medical project, but the beginning of a bright journey, an important initiative that seeks to restore sight to 600 Zimbabweans, empowering them to reclaim their autonomy and reintegrate fully into society," Mombeshora said.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 125,000 people in Zimbabwe were living with blindness in 2021, with 62,500 cases caused by cataracts. Due to the high cost of treatment, many low-income individuals, particularly in rural areas, are unable to access care, leading to preventable blindness.

Speaking at the launch, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding said that the program not only reflects China's commitment to global health cooperation but also strengthens the deep and enduring friendship between China and Zimbabwe.

This year marks both the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Zimbabwe and the 40th anniversary of their medical cooperation.

"With the launch of this program, we add another milestone to our anniversary celebrations," Zhou said.

The impact of the program extends beyond restoring sight as it enhances Zimbabwe's medical expertise in eye surgeries and fosters knowledge exchange between Chinese and Zimbabwean medical professionals, the ambassador added.