After travelling more than 27 hours by boat to Samoa, husband and wife Penetito and Setefania could see each other clearly for the first time in years.
Tokelau is one of the most isolated nations in the world, home to just over 1,200 people. With no airports and limited medical facilities, access to specialist healthcare is a major challenge. The only regular access is by boat from Samoa, a journey that takes more than a full day.
It was here, in August 2024, that a team of eye care professionals visited from the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) in Suva, Fiji to conduct eye screenings. In just 10 days, they saw more than half the population, identifying those with treatable eye conditions like cataracts, pterygium, and diabetes eye disease. Among them were Penetito, a church minister and wood carver, and his wife, Setefania.
Soon after his wife, Setefania’s sight also began to fail. She couldn’t read her phone messages and struggled to weave. Eventually, she couldn’t see Penetito’s face.
When the PEI team arrived to screen the Tokelauan population, Penetito and Setefania went along. It was discovered that they both had cataracts and would need surgery to restore their sight.
With support from The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, the governments of Tokelau and Samoa worked together to make the surgeries possible.
Due to age and visual impairment, many of the patients also required that a loved one accompany them. That’s one more person that loses out on a month of income, time with family, responsibilities, and must deal with the higher cost of living in Samoa.
Penetito and Setefania travelled with one of their children, bringing bedding and food for the long stay. “It’s quite expensive in Samoa,” said Sene Kerisiano, Tokelau’s Director of Health, who accompanied the group. “But they were determined.”
Despite the long sea voyage and time away from home, the couple remained positive.
When the day of surgery arrived, Penetito and Setefania were calm and full of jokes — their humour helping others feel at ease. Dr Nola Pikacha, whose training was supported The Foundation, performed their cataract surgeries on the same day.
The next morning, the couple could hardly wait to have their bandages removed.
Dr Nola was excited too—two more patients with restored sight on her list of thousands. “When their bandage comes off, I sometimes reach my hand out to them,” she said. “And they can grab my hand. You never get tired of it”
When we visited a few days later, the couple were playing cards, laughing and teasing each other as always, but now they could see every move. Penetito looked forward to returning home to Tokelau, resuming his carving and cricket, and encouraging others to look after their eyes.
For Dr Nola, restoring sight for Penetito and Setefania was part of something much bigger. “The impact for each dollar is huge,” she said. “What we have seen in this outreach is that your donation goes to the very ends of the earth. The very ends of the ocean, I should say!”
Your gift helps ensure no one is left behind because of where they live.
