In January 2012, HCP volunteer Dr. Paul Jorizzo, a Glaucoma specialist from Medical Eye Center in Oregon, traveled to the Quiha Zonal Hospital to continue working with HCP Fellow Dr. Tilahun Kiros. The team, which consisted of Dr. Jorizzo, Dr. Tilahun, an ophthalmology resident from Addis Ababa, and several ophthalmic nurses, provided 422 surgeries in four days.

Dr. Jorizzo continued to Gondar University Hospital as a visiting professor and gave daily lectures to ophthalmologists, optometrists and ophthalmic nurses, as well as students. He consulted on complex glaucoma cases, performed and observed glaucoma surgery and worked with the staff on specific surgical skills that will hopefully aid in their ability to manage glaucoma.

ARBAMINCH HOSPITAL

HCP volunteers Drs. Huck Holz and Jason Dimmig traveled to Arbaminch, Ethiopia, to work with Dr. Yewubnesh Hailu Somega on corneal transplantation surgery and to participate in a high-volume cataract workshop. Dr. Somega was an HCP Fellow in 2010. She recently completed additional training in cornea with support from the HCP before returning to Arbaminch earlier this month.During the cataract workshop, the team provided 355 cataract surgeries. In addition, Drs. Holz and Dimmig taught corneal transplantation and glaucoma surgery techniques.

“The most extraordinary part of the trip was in the mornings after a long day of surgery (we usually did 80 surgeries a day) when we got to take the patches off of all the patients. Many of them were bilaterally blind for years and were able to see for the first time in years.”    —Dr. Jason Dimmig

Together Dr. Dan Reinstein and Tilganga’s Dr. Kishore Pradhan provided 40 Lasik surgeries to full paying clients — a key step to achieving cost recovery. It is our intent that Tilganga’s Refractive Surgery Unit will serve as a model for addressing refractive error in the developing world.

“Kishore and the team have made a great start. The outcomes from surgery this week have been second to none. I truly believe that the components are here for turning the Tilganga RSU into a world-class laser refractive surgery clinic.”
—Dr. Dan Reinstein

Dr. Reinstein plans to return for the official launch in April. He will continue to monitor the program and provide technical training on the state-of-the-art lasers (generously donated by LVCF).

Eye banking and outreach in Nepal

HCP Board Member Dr. Matt Oliva visited Tilganga later in January 2012 to meet with the eye bank team and the manager from SightLife India, work with Tilganga’s cornea service, visit the Hetauda Eye Hospital and participate in an outreach event in Chitwan.

Tilganga Deputy Medical Director Dr. Reeta Gurung examines
an outreach patient in Chitwan, Nepal.

You can donate to the HCP cause at http://philanthroper.com/deals/himalayan-cataract-project#/ for a few days.

In December, HCP CEO Job Heintz and Project Manager Pam Clapp met with partners at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to discuss our collaborative efforts dedicated to eliminating curable blindness in northern Ghana.

They checked on construction of the surgical training facility, worked with partners to prepare for the commodities procurement phase of the project (supported by a grant from USAID/ASHA), planned for the facility’s May 2012 inauguration and worked with the clinical leadership on the residency training program. They also met with Dr. Boateng Wiafe, Operation EyeSight Universal’s Regional Director for Africa, to discuss ways to collaborate and ramp up efforts to eliminate the backlog of needless blindness in Ghana.

Watch the video here.

“I saw what that required of my family ... to simply care and watch out for her ... so, knowing that others are blind, of 'preventable' diseases ... struck me as a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of other families around the world ... and to help as God has blessed me and my family ... so that others may have an opportunity to enjoy life to its fullest ... and yes, in an incredible memory to my sister ... who inspired this amazing and continuing journey!” 
—Drew Hosea

HCP will use the funds for two upcoming eye camps in Ethiopia. Thank you, Drew!

Together with colleagues from the John Dau Foundation and the Moran Eye Center, Co-Director Dr. Geoff Tabin led a team to South Sudan in mid-December to manage an eye care workshop at the Duk Lost Boys Health Clinic in Duk County, South Sudan. The clinic was established by former “Lost Boy” John Dau, a Sudanese refugee who lives in Syracuse, New York.

The team provided 200 sight-restoring cataract surgeries and 100 trichiasis surgeries for trachoma in a village with no running water and no electricity. The youngest eye patient was 14 months old and the oldest was 92. Most patients were led in by sticks and walked away on their own.

In a Skype interview with the Syracuse Post-Standard, John Dau relayed the excitement in the village. “I could tell from their faces that they weren’t sure it was possible, that somebody could come and open their eyes. To them, they are miracle doctors,” he said. “There are no words to describe my happiness, that this is happening in my village.” In the village, there are no electrical lines; a donated satellite dish provided Internet access. 

Updates and news articles about the eye surgeries in South Sudan can be found at these links:

• television news coverage of ophthalmologists who went to South Sudan on Utah’s KSL-TV
• article on the South Sudan eye care workshop in the National Geographic Adventure blog
• follow-up article in the Syracuse Post-Standard
• photos of the eye workshop in South Sudan by Michelle Bar-Evan
• article in the Syracuse Post-Standard newspaper about the participation of two Central New York doctors
• article in the Colorado Daily about the participation of volunteer Jordan Campbell
• Facebook page for the The John Dau Foundation and the Duk Lost Boys Clinic in South Sudan

Photos on the right courtesy of Ace Kvale. Click to enlarge.

Above, ophthalmologist Dr. Geoff Tabin working in South Sudan, as seen on KSL-TV. Click the image to visit the TV station’s website and view the video.

USAID-ASHA has provided a $700,000 grant towards the $1.1 million refractive surgery unit. HCP Advisory Board Member and LVC Director of Refractive Surgery Dr. Dan Reinstein will travel to Kathmandu to continue the work he started with Tilganga’s Dr. Kishore Pradhan for the official opening in January. London Vision Clinic Foundation was able to secure two generous laser donations for the Refractive Surgery Unit and have provided specialized training to Tilganga staff on several occasions. The new unit is projected to be key to cost recovery and an important step in developing a successful model for addressing refractive error in the developing world.