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30 May 2018 News

Gallery: Vanuatu outreach

Our outreach team visit countries that don’t yet have adequate eye care. Here is a collection of images from a recent outreach to the Port Vila National Eye Centre in Vanuatu. The team performed over 125 sight-saving operations in one week.
(Photography by Darren James).

1. Dr Kasso is training at our Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji. He will be the first permanent eye doctor in Vanuatu when he graduates this year. Here he is standing on the building site of the upgrade and expansion of the Port Vila National Eye Centre in Vanuatu, which is being funded by The Foundation and our supporters.
1. Dr Kasso is training at our Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji. He will be the first permanent eye doctor in Vanuatu when he graduates this year. Here he is standing on the building site of the upgrade and expansion of the Port Vila National Eye Centre in Vanuatu, which is being funded by The Foundation and our supporters.
2. A bilaterally blind patient feeling her way, as she leaves the outreach after a cataract operation.
2. A bilaterally blind patient feeling her way, as she leaves the outreach after a cataract operation.
3. Ronnie has diabetes and is going blind from diabetic eye disease. Unfortunately our outreach team couldn’t help him. He was referred to our eye doctors too late, meaning laser eye treatment couldn’t reduce the impact of diabetes on his vision.
3. Ronnie has diabetes and is going blind from diabetic eye disease. Unfortunately our outreach team couldn’t help him. He was referred to our eye doctors too late, meaning laser eye treatment couldn’t reduce the impact of diabetes on his vision.
4. Patients waiting in anticipation to have their bandages removed after their cataract operations.
4. Patients waiting in anticipation to have their bandages removed after their cataract operations.
5. Gabriella, age 5, was born at 27 weeks with a congenital cataract, which she had removed in 2016. The outreach team caught up with Gabriella in Vanuatu a few weeks ago, and what a change! Here was a girl happily playing in the garden with her cousin, who talked to us about mermaids and unicorns and what she loves most about the school.
5. Gabriella, age 5, was born at 27 weeks with a congenital cataract, which she had removed in 2016. The outreach team caught up with Gabriella in Vanuatu a few weeks ago, and what a change! Here was a girl happily playing in the garden with her cousin, who talked to us about mermaids and unicorns and what she loves most about the school.
6. Our outreach team arrive from Fiji at Port Vila National Eye Centre in Vanuatu. In one week they performed over 125 eye operations.
6. Our outreach team arrive from Fiji at Port Vila National Eye Centre in Vanuatu. In one week they performed over 125 eye operations.
7. This is the waiting room for non-communicable diseases. These patients are here to see our diabetic eye disease specialists.
7. This is the waiting room for non-communicable diseases. These patients are here to see our diabetic eye disease specialists.
8. Karlpat is a 51 year old diabetes patient who spent two years in hospital after collapsing into a diabetic coma. He has had laser eye surgery twice. Before being diagnosed with diabetes he wasn’t aware of the disease. He has completely changed his life-style since being diagnosed.
8. Karlpat is a 51 year old diabetes patient who spent two years in hospital after collapsing into a diabetic coma. He has had laser eye surgery twice. Before being diagnosed with diabetes he wasn’t aware of the disease. He has completely changed his life-style since being diagnosed.
9. Dr Telaite Biu checking the eyes of a 23 year old diabetic. Dr Biu is the lead eye doctor for our Pacific-wide diabetes eye programme. Diabetes is the world’s leading cause of avoidable blindness in the working age population. Dr Biu and her team provide diabetes eye screening and treatment and train eye care professionals from around the Pacific in diabetec eye care.
9. Dr Telaite Biu checking the eyes of a 23 year old diabetic. Dr Biu is the lead eye doctor for our Pacific-wide diabetes eye programme. Diabetes is the world’s leading cause of avoidable blindness in the working age population. Dr Biu and her team provide diabetes eye screening and treatment and train eye care professionals from around the Pacific in diabetec eye care.
10. Annie is 48 years old and was bi-laterally blind. She was highly dependent on her family. The outreach team was able to restore Annie’s sight with a short cataract operation. She can now go back to work so she can build her own home on her land, which currently sits empty.
10. Annie is 48 years old and was bi-laterally blind. She was highly dependent on her family. The outreach team was able to restore Annie’s sight with a short cataract operation. She can now go back to work so she can build her own home on her land, which currently sits empty.
11. Diabetes patient, Edgar, needed his cataracts operated on during the outreach. Unfortunately he couldn’t be operated on due to an un-healed wound from a recent finger amputation. Edgar will now have to wait until Dr Kasso returns in December.
11. Diabetes patient, Edgar, needed his cataracts operated on during the outreach. Unfortunately he couldn’t be operated on due to an un-healed wound from a recent finger amputation. Edgar will now have to wait until Dr Kasso returns in December.
12. Naomi was bilaterally blind. This photo was taken after a cataract operation on one of her eyes. She is being guided home by her family, hoping tomorrow she will be able to walk by herself.
12. Naomi was bilaterally blind. This photo was taken after a cataract operation on one of her eyes. She is being guided home by her family, hoping tomorrow she will be able to walk by herself.
13. Our outreach team getting prepared to go into the operating theatre to perform cataract surgeries.
13. Our outreach team getting prepared to go into the operating theatre to perform cataract surgeries.
14. A patient returns the day after her cataract surgery to have her bandaged removed, in the hope she will be able to see again. She is looking forward to gardening and cooking.
14. A patient returns the day after her cataract surgery to have her bandaged removed, in the hope she will be able to see again. She is looking forward to gardening and cooking.
15. A patient hugging one of the medical team with gratitude - she can now see again.
15. A patient hugging one of the medical team with gratitude - she can now see again.
16. Clerence is a 22 year old diabetes patient. She has seriously impaired vision and needs her cataracts removed. Unfortunately she has had a series of diabetes-related infections which have prevented her from being operated on.
16. Clerence is a 22 year old diabetes patient. She has seriously impaired vision and needs her cataracts removed. Unfortunately she has had a series of diabetes-related infections which have prevented her from being operated on.
17. Patients waiting to go into cataract surgery.
17. Patients waiting to go into cataract surgery.
18. Baby Elizabeth, just 2 years and 2 months old, was blind in both eyes due to cataracts. In this photo she is sitting with her older sister, a couple of days after her cataract surgery. Her protective goggles are placed over the eyes while her new lenses adjust to being in the eye.
18. Baby Elizabeth, just 2 years and 2 months old, was blind in both eyes due to cataracts. In this photo she is sitting with her older sister, a couple of days after her cataract surgery. Her protective goggles are placed over the eyes while her new lenses adjust to being in the eye.
19. Baby Elizabeth curiously looking at her Dad’s beard. Her eyes are slowly adjusting to the light after she had successful cataract surgery on both her eyes.
19. Baby Elizabeth curiously looking at her Dad’s beard. Her eyes are slowly adjusting to the light after she had successful cataract surgery on both her eyes.
20. Bethe lives on one of the outer islands of Vanuatu where there is minimal eye care services. Last year while re-building her home after it was hit by a cyclone, a leaf blew into Bethe’s eye, causing a scratch. Bethe’s eye was left untreated and became infected. As the infection spread Bethe became very ill, so she travelled to Port Vila to visit the hospital. Bethe then had to wait for six weeks for the outreach team to arrive. Unfortunately her eye had to be removed but if the infection had spread any further she may have lost her life.
20. Bethe lives on one of the outer islands of Vanuatu where there is minimal eye care services. Last year while re-building her home after it was hit by a cyclone, a leaf blew into Bethe’s eye, causing a scratch. Bethe’s eye was left untreated and became infected. As the infection spread Bethe became very ill, so she travelled to Port Vila to visit the hospital. Bethe then had to wait for six weeks for the outreach team to arrive. Unfortunately her eye had to be removed but if the infection had spread any further she may have lost her life.
21. A patient waiting with anticipation to have her bandaged removed.
21. A patient waiting with anticipation to have her bandaged removed.
22. Baby Vincent underwent investigative surgery due to a lump being found on his eye. In this picture his mum is kissing his hand as he falls asleep.
22. Baby Vincent underwent investigative surgery due to a lump being found on his eye. In this picture his mum is kissing his hand as he falls asleep.
23. Katua is a diabetes patient. She visited our diabetic eye care specialist team during the Port Vila outreach. When she was diagnosed with diabetes in 2015, she immediately changed her lifestyle. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with diabetes too late and now has severe diabetic eye disease. She needs laser eye treatment in both eyes and an injection in her eye, which isn’t available in Vanuatu.
23. Katua is a diabetes patient. She visited our diabetic eye care specialist team during the Port Vila outreach. When she was diagnosed with diabetes in 2015, she immediately changed her lifestyle. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with diabetes too late and now has severe diabetic eye disease. She needs laser eye treatment in both eyes and an injection in her eye, which isn’t available in Vanuatu.
24. Iauilim has been blind in both eyes for over four years. She travelled from Tana Island, which is a plane or boat ride from Port Vila National Eye Centre. Here she is being guided into the eye clinic by David, a Foundation-trained nurse. David brought Iauilim and six other patients all the way from Tanna to see the outreach team.
24. Iauilim has been blind in both eyes for over four years. She travelled from Tana Island, which is a plane or boat ride from Port Vila National Eye Centre. Here she is being guided into the eye clinic by David, a Foundation-trained nurse. David brought Iauilim and six other patients all the way from Tanna to see the outreach team.
25. Iauilim with her daughter after her bandage has been removed following her cataract surgery. She says she is looking forward to going to the toilet by herself, which she hasn’t been able to do for over four years.
25. Iauilim with her daughter after her bandage has been removed following her cataract surgery. She says she is looking forward to going to the toilet by herself, which she hasn’t been able to do for over four years.
26. Monique couldn’t stop smiling after her cataract surgery. She was feeling hopeful her vision would be saved and she could return to work. She was so thankful to the supporters of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.
26. Monique couldn’t stop smiling after her cataract surgery. She was feeling hopeful her vision would be saved and she could return to work. She was so thankful to the supporters of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.
27. Dr Mundi Qalo leads the Pacific outreach team. He has performed thousands of sight-saving surgeries. Here he is with one of the many patients he has helped to see again.
27. Dr Mundi Qalo leads the Pacific outreach team. He has performed thousands of sight-saving surgeries. Here he is with one of the many patients he has helped to see again.

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