May 2009
EYES FOR AFRICA RESTORES SIGHT TO TRIBES PEOPLE LIVING IN REMOTE ETHIOPIA
Southern Omo Valley Ethiopia.
Over 1000 people living in remote and rural areas of Ethiopia were screened
for eye complaints and given free glasses or cataract surgery to restore their
vision.
No eye care has been given in this area before due to the remoteness.
Local and international doctors ,optometrists, nurses Alcon rep, photographer
and volunteers participated to achieve an outstanding result of over 200 cataract
surgeries in 10 days, including 48 trichiasis surgeries due to Trachoma.We
travelled neally 700 kms in 2 days by truck to Jinka and Turmi, over very remote
and rough terrain to treat people from the Ari, Bume,Mursi, Hamar,Nyangatom
,Dassanech and Karo tribes.
Thankyou to Lions Recycle for Sight Australia for donating sunnies, The Optical
Superstore for donating frames,Carl Zeiss vision for optical lenses,Device
technology, design for vision, Alcon for the loan of phaco emulsification machine
, and Zeiss for the loan of the portable microscope.
Donations from fundraising and generosity of the Australian public has made
this campaign a success.
Eyes for Africa has now restored sight to over 600
people since 2007.
Eyes for Africa Team arrived at Addis Ababa Bole Airport |
Assessing patients |
Peter K. from Alcon and Julie Tyers setting up
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"Four wise men" after their procedure
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Amazing eyes of village child |
Our Jinka Team 2009 |
Dr Michael Shiu examining patient |
Dr Michael Shiu operating , Chelsea assisting |
In November 2007 Bruce (my brother, official photographer) and I travelled to Butajira, Ethiopia for the initial eyes for Africa project.
We travelled by car 135km south from Addis the capital, along an asphalt road to Butajira. Along the way we passed traditional houses called tukuls, made from straw and sticks with mud floors, and crops of maize and tef. The weather was hot during the day and cooler at night.
We were greeted at the Grarbet Institution by Prof Redda and Mr Teshome, the coordinators of the project on ground. They had already accommodated 150 patients into the compound. The patients stayed with family until their turn for sight restoring cataract surgery. Their cooks provided njerra, vegie dishes, bread and water.
Every day Dr Fitsum operated on 20-30 patients until the target of 200 was reached. Dr Asfaw in Ziway helped by performing 30 of these.
The nurses were very kind and caring to the patients who were grateful of our efforts to restore their sight. We were made very welcome and enjoyed the hospitality from everyone.
The local outreach nurses planned to visit each patient in one week and one month for check up.
We were overwhelmed by the gratitude of the patients for the chance to regain their sight.
We are now planning for our return to Butajira and Omo valley in January 2009 where no surgeries have been performed.
Only A$20 is needed to restore eyesight.
Julie
See a Google satellite image of the Grarbet Institution, Butajira, Ethiopia
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Photos by Bruce McDonald
