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25 July 2018 News

Gallery: The remarkable story of seven patients and one nurse

This gallery tells the story of seven patients, all residents of Tanna, one of Vanuatu’s most remote islands, and the nurse who made it possible for them to regain their sight.


(Photography by Darren James).

1. Vanuatu is a beautiful island nation. It's made up of 83 islands stretched over 1,300 kilometres. There are many challenges for those whose eyesight has failed. The lack of a permanent eye doctor has been the greatest problem.
1. Vanuatu is a beautiful island nation. It's made up of 83 islands stretched over 1,300 kilometres. There are many challenges for those whose eyesight has failed. The lack of a permanent eye doctor has been the greatest problem.
2. Even when The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ's outreach team visits Port Vila in Vanuatu, there have been many other difficulties for patients to overcome to get their sight restored. One is their distance from the capital, Port Vila, which many islands are hundreds of kilometres from.
2. Even when The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ's outreach team visits Port Vila in Vanuatu, there have been many other difficulties for patients to overcome to get their sight restored. One is their distance from the capital, Port Vila, which many islands are hundreds of kilometres from.
3. The cost of air travel is expensive. Travelling by boat can be uncomfortable and can take around two days, meaning access to eye care is impossible for some people who live in remote communities, such as Tanna island, which is 500km from Port Vila.
3. The cost of air travel is expensive. Travelling by boat can be uncomfortable and can take around two days, meaning access to eye care is impossible for some people who live in remote communities, such as Tanna island, which is 500km from Port Vila.
4. David (far left), an eye nurse from Tanna, one of Vanuatu's most remote islands, made it possible for seven patients, all residents of Tanna, to regain their sight.
4. David (far left), an eye nurse from Tanna, one of Vanuatu's most remote islands, made it possible for seven patients, all residents of Tanna, to regain their sight.
5. Eye nurses' Basil and David were both trained by The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. "I arranged for the patients to travel to Port Vila when there was an outreach clinic by The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. Basil, an eye nurse based in Port Vila, helped me to do this - he was a hero." - David.
5. Eye nurses' Basil and David were both trained by The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. "I arranged for the patients to travel to Port Vila when there was an outreach clinic by The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. Basil, an eye nurse based in Port Vila, helped me to do this - he was a hero." - David.
6. Iauilim has been blind in both eyes for over four years. She travelled from Tana Island, with David, to visit the outreach team. Here she is being guided into the eye clinic by David.
6. Iauilim has been blind in both eyes for over four years. She travelled from Tana Island, with David, to visit the outreach team. Here she is being guided into the eye clinic by David.
7. Before a patient can go into surgery, they have to have their eyes checked to ensure they can be operated on. This is a nerve-racking moment for all the patients.
7. Before a patient can go into surgery, they have to have their eyes checked to ensure they can be operated on. This is a nerve-racking moment for all the patients.
8. Aged only 29, Rex had a very dense cataract in his left eye, reminding us cataract blindness is not confined to the elderly. The cataract made it difficult for him to work and to support his wife and two young children. He was lucky to be sponsored to make the journey to Port Vila.
8. Aged only 29, Rex had a very dense cataract in his left eye, reminding us cataract blindness is not confined to the elderly. The cataract made it difficult for him to work and to support his wife and two young children. He was lucky to be sponsored to make the journey to Port Vila.
9. Dr Mundi Qalo, is checking the patients eyes before going into surgery. Dr Qalo leads our Pacific outreach team to countries that don't yet have adequate eye care.
9. Dr Mundi Qalo, is checking the patients eyes before going into surgery. Dr Qalo leads our Pacific outreach team to countries that don't yet have adequate eye care.
10. One of the eye nurses from our outreach team getting prepared to go into the operating theatre to perform cataract surgeries.
10. One of the eye nurses from our outreach team getting prepared to go into the operating theatre to perform cataract surgeries.
11. One of the patients who travelled from Tanna, waiting to go into surgery with the hope she will be able to see again.
11. One of the patients who travelled from Tanna, waiting to go into surgery with the hope she will be able to see again.
12. Rex waiting to go into surgery that could change his life.
12. Rex waiting to go into surgery that could change his life.
13. The outreach team preparing the operating theatre so they can perform the life-changing cataract surgeries.
13. The outreach team preparing the operating theatre so they can perform the life-changing cataract surgeries.
14. A patient from Tanna Island after her surgery. She will have to wait until tomorrow to find out if her surgery was a success.
14. A patient from Tanna Island after her surgery. She will have to wait until tomorrow to find out if her surgery was a success.
15. Eye nurse David, with an excited patient from Tanna island.
15. Eye nurse David, with an excited patient from Tanna island.
16. Rex asks an eye nurse, "Does this mean I will be able to see again?". He will have to wait until tomorrow to find out.
16. Rex asks an eye nurse, "Does this mean I will be able to see again?". He will have to wait until tomorrow to find out.
17. lauilim is happy to be out of surgery and hopeful she'll be able to see again for the first time in four years.
17. lauilim is happy to be out of surgery and hopeful she'll be able to see again for the first time in four years.
18. The outreach team work hard to perform as many surgeries as they can, knowing if they miss anyone, they may have to live a year darkness until they can see another eye doctor.
18. The outreach team work hard to perform as many surgeries as they can, knowing if they miss anyone, they may have to live a year darkness until they can see another eye doctor.
19. The day after surgery Iauilim is back at the eye clinic and hoping for good news.
19. The day after surgery Iauilim is back at the eye clinic and hoping for good news.
20. Rex threw his head back, took a deep breath and looked up at the sky in utter relief. He has got his life back.
20. Rex threw his head back, took a deep breath and looked up at the sky in utter relief. He has got his life back.
21. Rex with David and Dr Mundi Qalo, the eye doctor that restored his sight. Rex can now see, but his problems were not over entirely. He has to earn money to pay for the return journey home where he would finally be able to see his wife and children, thanks to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ and your support.
21. Rex with David and Dr Mundi Qalo, the eye doctor that restored his sight. Rex can now see, but his problems were not over entirely. He has to earn money to pay for the return journey home where he would finally be able to see his wife and children, thanks to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ and your support.
22. Keil has a wife and five children waiting for him back in Tanna. The Ministry of Health paid for his flight to Port Vila, but he doesn't know how he will get back home. He says, "I will have to find some work here, so I can save for a boat ride back to Tanna, I don't know how long it will be until I see my family again."
22. Keil has a wife and five children waiting for him back in Tanna. The Ministry of Health paid for his flight to Port Vila, but he doesn't know how he will get back home. He says, "I will have to find some work here, so I can save for a boat ride back to Tanna, I don't know how long it will be until I see my family again."
23. Some patients don't know that western medicine can save their sight, they just accept their blindness and think there's nothing that can be done about it. "I didn't understand how an operation could fix my eye. The eye is fragile and I was scared, but David showed me another person who had the surgery and now they can see. I hope I will be able to as well." Alick, age 50.
23. Some patients don't know that western medicine can save their sight, they just accept their blindness and think there's nothing that can be done about it. "I didn't understand how an operation could fix my eye. The eye is fragile and I was scared, but David showed me another person who had the surgery and now they can see. I hope I will be able to as well." Alick, age 50.
24. When Iauilim's bandage was removed she was a different lady, her face lit up. She couldn't stop beaming.
24. When Iauilim's bandage was removed she was a different lady, her face lit up. She couldn't stop beaming.
25. "I'm so happy. Now Iauilim can see again, now all seven can see again, I can show other people in our community. Everyone will know they can have an operation to see again. This is just the beginning for us." - David.
25. "I'm so happy. Now Iauilim can see again, now all seven can see again, I can show other people in our community. Everyone will know they can have an operation to see again. This is just the beginning for us." - David.
26. Iauilim can walk by herself! She said to David, "I am so happy. I can see now. I feel so much joy. I can see the chair. I can see the floor. The bench. I can't believe it. It's a miracle." She talked on and on. Later in the day she whispered to one of the other nurses, "I went to the toilet by myself. The first time in four years."
26. Iauilim can walk by herself! She said to David, "I am so happy. I can see now. I feel so much joy. I can see the chair. I can see the floor. The bench. I can't believe it. It's a miracle." She talked on and on. Later in the day she whispered to one of the other nurses, "I went to the toilet by myself. The first time in four years."
27. This success story reflects the impact The Foundation has had. David, working with a colleague in Port Vila, was able to break the chain that held these people in darkness. This is a sustainable solution, where trained professionals are working in local communities and eye care can be accessed every day.
27. This success story reflects the impact The Foundation has had. David, working with a colleague in Port Vila, was able to break the chain that held these people in darkness. This is a sustainable solution, where trained professionals are working in local communities and eye care can be accessed every day.
28. Your support means that we can now upgrade the Port Vila Eye Clinic and Vanuatu will have their first permanent eye doctor by the end of the year. Helping the people who so desperately need it. Without your help, The Foundation would never have been able to achieve this. Thank you.
28. Your support means that we can now upgrade the Port Vila Eye Clinic and Vanuatu will have their first permanent eye doctor by the end of the year. Helping the people who so desperately need it. Without your help, The Foundation would never have been able to achieve this. Thank you.
29. But more help is still needed. Eye disease can be found across Vanuatu. We need to continue to build our eye care network and to provide even more training and equipment, so people in future generations have access to eye care.
29. But more help is still needed. Eye disease can be found across Vanuatu. We need to continue to build our eye care network and to provide even more training and equipment, so people in future generations have access to eye care.

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