Pacific Mission delegation visit Vanuatu eye clinic

The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ was invited to join the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) Pacific Mission to Vanuatu, held this year in early June. During the visit, part of the delegation visited the Vanuatu National Eye Centre which opened earlier this year following a $2.5 million upgrade and expansion by The Foundation,

“It is truly fantastic to be able to share the success of the upgraded eye centre with members of the Pacific Mission delegation,” says Andrew Bell, Executive Director of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, who was part of the delegation.

The Minster of Foreign Affairs, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, led the delegation and was very complimentary about The Foundation, stating: “If you look at all the great charities around the world, this has to be in the top five anywhere you look.”

The Pacific Mission delegation also resulted in some great media coverage for The Foundation including:

Dr Kasso talking about the impact the $2.5 million upgrade is already making on the number of patients being seen in the first three months since re-opening. Listen here.

The full video of the delegation’s Vanuatu leg of the trip, including the speech made by the Rt Hon Winston Peters. Watch it here.

A Sky News’ feature on Dr Kasso, the first eye doctor in Vanuatu. Watch it here.

A Tagata Pasifika interview with eye nurse, Brian Korty, about the new upgraded eye centre. Watch it here.