“I am very happy when I see my patients. When they take off the plasters from their eye and they can see. And they smile. It’s really amazing.” – Dr Pius
Dr Pius has been working for the National Referral Hospital in Honiara since 2019. He saw the incredible work that the eye care specialists do at the Regional Eye Clinic (REC), such as eye screenings and consultations, going on outreaches, helping countless people to see again.
He hoped that one day he would be able to bring sight back to people too.
In 2021, Dr Pius was offered his scholarship and accepted into Fiji National University, supported by Pacific Eye Institute. There he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmology.
“I think its a great privilege that Fred Hollows can fund us for further studies in ophthalmology.” – Dr Pius
That’s why we work with our Pacific partners to train local eye doctors and nurses. The support of our remarkable donors goes towards this; helping to provide people like Dr Pius with post-graduate eye care training, so that they can go on to deliver much-needed high-quality and affordable eye care services in their own communities.
Training a local eye care workforce is the most sustainable way to eliminate avoidable blindness and vision impairment in the Pacific.
Without it, he would not have been able to become an eye doctor. Since graduating last year, he has returned home to Honiara to give the gift of sight to people in his community, through the REC.
Avoidable blindness limits too many lives. By training local eye doctors, nurses and specialists to restore sight in their communities, we are setting the stage for more equitable eye care.
