Joseph's Story
LOVE MADE VISIBLE
JOSEPH'S STORY
Eight-year old Joseph from Pitogo, Quezon Province relies on touch, sounds, and voices to sense the people around him.
Born with multiple conditions including cataract on both eyes, he grew up without any idea how the world looks like - not even his mother who stands by him 24/7. Joseph's blindness prevents him from moving independently. His mother Jonalyn has to carry him everytime he goes to school.
At school, special education teacher Jovie Silvallana treats Joseph like her own son. Knowing that their family struggles to make ends meet, she does her best to support them.
“I've been teaching Joseph since he was five. I do home visits, and from time to time, I bring them food,” Jovie said.
Upon learning that an eye health program was launched at their school, she immediately grabbed the opportunity to refer Joseph to eye health experts in their province.
Jonalyn couldn't believe that her son is finally getting his much-needed cataract operation.
“I'd like to thank Teacher Jovie, Nurse Bebot, and all the people who helped us including The Fred Hollows Foundation. I'm so grateful that a program like this exists. I've been praying for this for so long,” Jonalyn said.
There were visible signs of improvement after Joseph’s surgery. He seems to respond to light, and he no longer had to rely on exagerated hand movements to stimulate his eyes. Jonalyn is excited for her son's full recovery.
“We'll do a lot and I will teach him many things when he's able to see - his siblings, the people that helped him, and the sea near us. We might even walk together at the beach,” Jonalyn said.
When Joseph sees, he will be able to see the faces of the people taking care of him. The love and support from his teacher and his family will finally be made visible.
The Foundation’s work in the Philippines is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
OUR SIGHT-RESTORING WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES
In places like the Philippines, there is a huge gap between health services found in the big cities, and those in remote and rural areas. According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) , there are an estimated 1,440 ophthalmologists in the Philippines, but 95% of them practice privately in urban areas. Only 34 of them specialise in paediatric ophthalmology, and fewer than 10 practice outside of Manila.
The Foundation works closely with the Philippine Department of Health to address gaps in the country’s eye health system. We focus our work in key provinces identified by the Government, prioritising regions that need the most assistance.
Since The Foundation started its work in the country in 2014, more than 324,000 people in six provinces have been screened for eye diseases, and more than 82,000 have received sight-saving treatments such as cataract operations.
The Foundation is also investing in long-term solutions like educating community members, and training teachers, indigenous leaders and community health workers. Beyond these numbers, the impact of changing someone’s life is not easy to quantify. For each person whose sight is restored, entire families and communities are transformed. A landmark study by PricewaterhouseCoopers showed that in developing countries, every $1 spent on eye health results in $4 in economic gain.
GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHTImagine not being able to access the basic eye care needed to lead your life. There are millions of people throughout the world who live like this. Vision impairment and blindness can affect every aspect of one's life; school, work, relationships, and basic human rights. |
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