OUR PROGRAMS
The Program is composed of three key components, each of which is focused on improving the eye health system in Timor Leste and to facilitate a sustainable eye care service in the country.
Each component contributes to ETEP's overall goal of ensuring that East Timor becomes self-sufficient in the provision of eye care by 2015, and that preventable blindness is completely eradicated by 2025.
EYE CARE SERVICES
Each year, visiting eye teams from Australia travel to East Timor to distribute spectacles, perform consultations and operations over 1 - 2 week visits. Six specialist visits are made each year and approximately 600 – 800 patients are treated on each visit with 100 – 150 patients receiving sight restoring surgery. The eye teams are predominantly based at the referral hospitals to service the remote communities.
The main type of eye surgery carried out by the visiting teams is cataract surgery. The team consists of eye surgeons, optometrists and nurses who volunteer their time and skills free of cost to improve eye care in Timor Leste.
To date, more than 33,750 East Timorese have attended the various eye clinics under the Program. Of these, over 28,300 have received spectacles and more than 3,500 have undergone life changing surgical procedures. The eye surgeons, optometrists, and nurses who make up the eye teams volunteer their time and skills free of cost.
The ETEP is also committed to establishing sub-specialty clinics in Timor Leste. In 2009, the Program delivered a corneal and retinal clinic in Dili and the country’s first corneal transplants were performed successfully. The Program is also working to set up paediatric ophthalmology, glaucoma and oculoplastic surgery services in the near future.
For a schedule of upcoming eye team visits, please click here
CAPACITY BUILDING
ETEP works closely with the East Timor Ministry of Health to select & train local staff to improve local capacity. By training and upskilling of Timorese eye health personnel, this ensures a long-term, sustainable and appropriate eye care program providing preventive and curative eye-care to the people of East Timor.
Through the ETEP, the first Timorese eye surgeon completed his training and qualified with a Masters in International Ophthalmology from the University of Sydney at the end of 2008. In early 2009, the ETEP recruited an expatriate ophthalmologist to work at Dili national hospital to provide services and mentor the newly qualified Timorese ophthalmologist.
Over the next few years, the Program aims to train a second ophthalmologist to further strengthen national capacity.
The Program is also focused on training and upskilling local ophthalmic nurses. On the job training is provided to existing eye nurses through the visiting teams in country and the Program aims to support 4 to 6 more ophthalmic nurses for overseas training to further strengthen local capacity.
EYE CLINIC UPGRADES IN THE DISTRICTS
Access to eye care services is particularly difficult for people living in the more rural areas of East Timor. It is not uncommon for family members to travel for hours by foot to access medical treatment including eye care services. With most of the population living on less that USD0.55 per day, it is also very expensive for families to make the long journey to seek treatment.
The Program is committed to expanding eye care services to the most remote and disadvantaged communities of East Timor. To help achieve this, the Program is equipping the referral hospitals in the districts with surgical microscopes and diagnostic equipment including slit lamps and lasers.
|
