Dr. Lowell Gess (left) ushers Sierra Leone Area Bishop John Yambasu into the new surgical theater of the Lowell and Ruth Gess United Methodist Eye Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, after a dedication ceremony in front of the building. Gess started the eye clinic at Kissy, rural Freetown at the time, creating a new level of eye care for West Africa. Photo by Phileas Jusu, UM News.

A state-of-the-art surgical facility provides the foundation for expanding eye care at the Lowell and Ruth Gess United Methodist Eye Hospital, which already works with Ebola survivors who suffer from vision complications. 

The Sierra Leone Conference’s Health Board, together with partners, dedicated the new building on Aug. 4. United Methodist-related Emory University, Central Global Vision Fund and Christian Blind Mission all supported the expansion.

Lowell Gess, who spent 58 years in mission work in Sierra Leone, founded the original United Methodist eye clinic. The clinic was renamed for Gess and his wife, Ruth in 2011 in recognition of their work and service to the people of Sierra Leone.
 
Gess, who traveled from Minnesota to Freetown for the dedication program, celebrated his 98th birthday with staff of the hospital the week before.

Roger Reiners , a member of Central UMC in Milbank, South Dakota, spoke for Central Global Vision Fund, which he said got involved with the eye ministry in Sierra Leone in 1981.   Read more

“We never envisioned the growth and the expansion we see here today,” he said.