The university hospital of Gabès has reached a decisive milestone in the history of regional healthcare.
For the first time, a corneal transplant has been successfully performed at this public facility, marking a significant leap forward in ophthalmic surgery capabilities and expertise in southern Tunisia.
The operation was carried out by the hospital’s ophthalmic surgery team, led by university assistant professor Yassine Belghith.
The procedure made use of cutting-edge medical equipment, including a next-generation surgical microscope. This advanced technology enabled extremely precise execution, ensuring optimal surgical outcomes.
The announcement was made official on Wednesday by the hospital’s administration, which hailed the achievement as a major breakthrough for the department.
A Strong and Steady Medical Momentum
This success builds on a dynamic that has been underway for several months. In September 2024, the same department had already made headlines for performing an amniotic membrane transplant on a young patient suffering from a deep corneal ulcer—an intervention that helped avoid irreversible perforation of the cornea.
That procedure, conducted in collaboration with the National Center for the Promotion of Organ Transplantation and the Gabès blood bank, had already showcased the region’s growing potential for advanced ocular microsurgery.
With this first corneal transplant, the Gabès university hospital is demonstrating an increasing capacity to meet highly specialized medical needs locally—services that until now were largely confined to major hospital centers in northern Tunisia.
A Long-Term Commitment to Public Health
In its official statement, the hospital’s management extended congratulations to all medical and paramedical staff involved in this success, while reaffirming its ongoing commitment to improving patient care, infrastructure, and medical equipment.
The stated objective is clear: to strengthen the region’s medical autonomy and reduce disparities in access to specialized care by equipping local facilities with the necessary human and technical resources.
Thus, the first corneal transplant performed in Gabès is more than a technical feat—it is a message of hope for patients in southern Tunisia and a reflection of both political and medical will to bring the most advanced care closer to all citizens, wherever they may be.
A powerful symbol of a more equitable Tunisia in the realm of public health.
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