Cambodian TV spreads eye health message

As part of this year's World Sight Day activities, ophthalmologists appeared on local television - answering questions from the public about eye health initiatives and blindness prevention in Cambodia.

According to The Foundation's Cambodia Country Manager, Sith Sam Ath, "This will help spread the word about eye health within Cambodia, ensuring more people know about our work and can get treatment.

"To improve eye health we need to make sure people know that in many cases blindness can be cured through a simple quick operation. Getting that message across is just as important as training surgeons," he said.

And, as part of its World Sight Day 2009 activities in Cambodia, The Foundation also organized free eye consultations, treatment and surgery in six provinces resulting in:

• Eye examinations for 1,154 people
• Cataract surgery for 211 people
• Other sight restoration treatment for 80 people

The Foundation has worked in Cambodia since 1998 and in this time our eye health program has made a significant impact at national, provincial and community levels.

The program works to ensure equal access to high quality and affordable eye care services for all people in Cambodia and strategies are in place to reach remote and underserved communities through activities such as outreach mobile eye camps. We also support a surgical subsidy for the poorest people to gain access to eye care treatment. 

The Foundation's program currently services around half of the Cambodian population, across seven provinces.

Last year in Cambodia The Foundation:

• Screened 27,178 people
• Supported 128 community outreach screening activities
• Performed almost 4,000 cataract operations/sight saving interventions
• Trained 312 eye health workers including three surgeons and 122 community specialists
• Upgraded three facilities and provided $126,579 in medical equipment
• Strengthened provincial eye care services in Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Kandal, Prey Veng, Kampong Speu and Siem Reap provinces.

In 2008, The Foundation was awarded a special medal of honour by the Cambodian government, acknowledging the organisation's contribution to preventing unnecessary blindness.