Finally, outreach in the South Pacific again

The global pandemic has not made them possible for a long time, but now thoughtful outreach activities can be planned and carried out again.

For example, Fred Hollows Foundation NZ's Solomon-Islands team completed a total of eight outreach missions in the country's outlying areas this year, treating 783 patients between January and May.

Outreach is crucial to reaching patients in need for eye care in the Solomon Islands, where heavy rains often wash out roads and many people travel by boat. "Access to eye care is a challenge we face in the Solomon Islands and other Pacific countries", says Foundation Medical Director Dr John Szetu. "It is not easy for an average person to travel around the country and nearly impossible for somebody who is blind. Outreach clinics are the only way many people can access eye screening and surgery."

Over the last five months, The Foundation Outreach Teams have seen 2,953 patients and conducted 221 eye surgeries in seven Pacific countries.

(Source: The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ)

Dr John Szetu performing eye surgery with the FLAIR P6 portable microscope.