By Beth O'Grady | Operations Specialist
Former Himalayan Cataract Project trainee, Dr. Dechen Wangmo, Bhutan’s first and only pediatric ophthalmologist, is taking advantage of the constellation vitrectomy machine purchased for Dr. Bhim Rai's retinal practice to facilitate cataract surgery for a five month old boy with congenital cataracts. Dr. Rai is also a former HCP trainee.
“It really made a difference in the post op compared to the old machine we had. The parents are very happy and grateful to HCP and the department. I had explained to them about how you all have helped us and how it has translated into better patient care and outcomes.” —Dr. Dechen Wangmo
The training and equipment that HCP provides to doctors, like Drs. Wangmo and Rai, is crucial in developing a sustainable health care system that functions effectively over the long-term with minimal external involvement.
In outreach news, the Hetauda Community Eye Hospital (HCEH) in Nepal conducted an eye screening workshop for more than 500 prisoners at Bhimphedi Jail outside of Hetauda, referring seven cataract patients for surgery and prescribing 35 pairs of glasses - 12 pairs purchased immediately. HCEH is upgrading its community screening programs to include refraction, and providing glasses instantly.
While the number of cataract cases has been reduced in the region, cases of refractive error have increased. Eyeglasses provide low-cost, effective help with refractive error; and the proceeds from sales of eyeglasses help to offset the costs associated with free patient care for all eye ailments.
Also in Nepal, the newly-constructed Phaplu Community Eye Center opened in June, 2014. Since 2003, it has provided eye care to more than 30,000. In the first half of 2014, Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (HCP's partner in Nepal), with HCP support, conducted seven Outreach Microsurgical Eye Clinics (OMECS) in Nepal and one in India, providing 1,811 cataract surgeries.
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can recieve an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
