Photo courtesy of Hugh Rutherford

Current Activities

In 2007 the China-Australia Cataract Surgery Training Cooperation Program will build on the successes of the past through:

Cataract Surgery Training

  • The Foundation will continue to build on the success of the China-Australia Cataract Surgery Training Cooperation Program. The Foundation’s model of microsurgical training is highly praised by counterparts in China as a potential model for replication.
  • Ophthalmologists from ten county hospitals will be trained in sutureless, small incision cataract surgery through the support of The Foundation.
  • The adoption of sophisticated surgery techniques by ophthalmologists will enable improvements in the quality and quantity of cataract operations performed at county hospitals. Investment in the development of surgeons’ skills will foster a strong reputation for the surgeon and hospital as a whole.   

Primary Eye Care Training

  • The Foundation will support medical teams, previously trained through the program, from 10 county hospitals to deliver primary eye care training to approximately 160 village doctors. Primary eye care training will cover the identification of eye diseases, treatment of minor eye problems and appropriate referral to county hospitals for surgery or other kinds of treatment.
  • Primary eye care training at village level will create an efficient referral pathway for patients to receive eye health treatment, boost surgical volume, increase public awareness and spearhead demand for cataract surgery.

Cataract Blindness Prevention and Treatment

  • The program aims to improve the delivery of high quality and high volume cataract surgery in Jiangxi Province. In 2007, at least 200 cataract operations will be performed at each of 10 county hospitals in Jiangxi with the support of The Foundation.
  • An additional 1,300 cataract operations are expected to be delivered during 21 eye camps in 2007.
  • Ten county hospitals involved in the program will each receive approximately US$3,300 worth of equipment as an incentive to deliver high quality and high volume cataract surgery. This will include the donation of A-Scans, Keratometers and cataract surgical instruments.
  • The program will offer a cataract subsidy to poor patients, which covers some of the costs of surgery, intraocular lenses and consumables.
  • The program will work with local government to examine ways to reduce the cost of surgery in Jiangxi Province.
  • A system for measuring the surgical outcomes of cataract operations will be used at the county hospitals. The purpose of this is to assist surgeons to monitor and improve the quality of their surgery and provide data on the quality of surgical outcomes.

In 2007 the China-Australia Cataract Surgery Training Cooperation Program will undertake the following new initiatives:

Survey of Avoidable Blindness

In 2007 a survey will be undertaken in three counties of Jiangxi Province to provide more accurate data on the prevalence and major causes of blindness. This survey will provide evidence to guide provincial eye care development plans and to enable a rigorous assessment of the program's impact.

New Eye Care Centre

Planning for a new Eye Care Centre in Jiangxi Province began with a workshop in 2002 which involved major stakeholders, provincial authorities and international experts in eye care centre development. The workshop set the stage for defining a business plan, facilities specifications, management structure and scope of services of the Centre.

The Foundation’s aim is for the Centre to have the ability to employ its own staff and set, within regulations, its own fee structure to enable affordable eye care services for the poor and marginalised.

The Centre will provide a range of low cost, high quality eye care services including cataract surgery, refraction and outreach screening for effective patient referral to the Centre.

The Centre will also act as a training facility for eye care personnel at all levels of the health system in Jiangxi Province
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The Jiangxi Provincial Bureau of Health has provided The Foundation with formal support for the establishment of the Centre. 

A final design and implementation plan for the Centre is currently being developed and agreements reached with the relevant stakeholders.

Paediatric Ophthalmology

The Foundation also plans to establish an Eye Care Centre, with a paediatric focus, at Gaoan City People’s Hospital to address the significant problem of childhood blindness. The Foundation's support includes the renovation and equipping of the eye care centre and training for ophthalmic staff (paediatric ophthalmologist, an optician, childhood anaesthetist and nurses).

Regular screening activities will be conducted at schools, while village doctors and school teachers will receive training on how to identify eye problems and to refer children to the Eye Care Centre for treatment and referral.

An extensive community education campaign will be developed to raise awareness about childhood blindness and of the availability of treatment services. This initial three year project represents the first initiative undertaken by The Foundation in China in the area of childhood blindness.