Our first eye unit opens in Laos

The seven-bed facility will provide high-quality eye care services for a population of approximately 500,000 people in the four northern provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Phongsaly.

This region is considered to be one of the poorest in the country, where the mountainous terrain and high levels of poverty continue to be significant barriers to accessing essential services.

"Thanks to the Fred Hollows Foundation, now we have a separate eye unit that is able to provide high-quality services to patients. I will try to work harder to restore sight for more poor people," said Dr Phetsamone Indala, Head of Oudomxay Eye Unit.

The Foundation supplied funding for the construction of the Eye Unit at Oudomxay Provincial Hospital and will provide operational support for the unit to function as a regional eye health support and service centre.

The Lao PDR Minister of Health, Dr Ponemek Dalaloy, expects the Oudomxay Eye Unit will become an important training centre for local ophthalmologists and eye care professionals.

The opening of the eye unit was also attended by Dr Michele Forster, Australian Ambassador to Laos PDR, and the Oudomxay Provincial Governor, Dr Bounpon Bouttanavong.

Three out of four people in the developing world are living with avoidable blindness due to lack of access to simple treatment and routine surgery. The goal of The Foundation's work in Lao PDR is to reduce avoidable blindness through improving access to high quality, sustainable and affordable eye care services.

Last year in Lao PDR The Foundation:

• Provided $67,766 in vital medical equipment
• Supported a team of local ophthalmologists and eye doctors to travel to remote districts
• Examined 2,347 people
• Provided sight-restoring cataract surgery to 397 patients
• Provided 76 people with operations or treatment for other eye conditions, including trachoma
• Conducted regional Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness surveys in the four northern provinces.

One of the first patients to receive sight-restoring cataract surgery at the new eye unit was Mrs Noy from Oudomxay. 

Mrs Noy is 97 years old and two years ago she lost her sight due to cataract. Being blind, Mrs Noy could not take care of herself and needed her son to help her with daily activities such as eating and bathing.

"I was so sad... I could not walk out of the door... I could not even see my son and my nephew. I felt so bad about myself," she said.

Mrs Noy did not dream that she would be able to see again, until one day her son heard about free cataract surgery, funded by The Fred Hollows Foundation. When her son brought her to the hospital, it was the first time she had walked out of her house in two years.

Even with the help of a nurse, Mrs Noy stumbled on the way to the operating theatre.

Only 24 hours after the surgery, Mrs Noy's sight was restored. Her face brightened when she realised she could see again. She walked confidently towards the doctor, saying "Khob Chay" (thank you).