Improving public understanding of charity work
Agnes also wishes to help and improve public understanding of the work of charities.
“For example, some donors do not like their donations to be spent on human resources. But programs need people to execute and implement; as I always say “we don’t yet have Alpha-Go in NGOs”. Or some may only like to donate to specific, say, education causes. Yet without healthy vision how can one pursue education?”
Surgeries in 2018 made Agnes pause for a year in her service to the charitable sector, but she kept her duties for a local Hong Kong NGO, and The Fred Hollows Foundation as Advisory Committee member. She also had cataract in one of her eyes and understands the needs of blind patients.
“It is difficult to live an independent life in remote areas when one cannot see clearly. Blindness is related to many social problems, such as poverty, lack of clean water, gender inequality and bullying.
“The Fred Hollows Foundation serves in 25 countries and has done over 2.5 million sight restoring surgeries. It impresses me by training local doctors and working with local medical partners in the most remote and poor regions. These trained doctors can in turn pass on their expertise. Its works make me believe that I should continue to serve The Foundation.”
Among the world’s blind, cataract accounts for about a third of the global cases. After going through a cataract surgery, Agnes also understands how important it is for The Foundation in restoring sight for patients in remote areas for as little as HKD150.
“Without many choices and resources in these areas, it is difficult for blind patients to turn their lives around. With sight restored, they can be independent and look after themselves, they can work and study to leave the poverty cycle. We can give them dignity and change their lives.”
“It was remarkable that Founder of The Foundation, Prof. Fred Hollows had a vision to set up factories to produce intraocular lenses for cataract surgeries, which greatly lowered the cost for surgeries and make them available to more patients.”
Agnes is worried that COVID-19 is going to hit-hard those in need of sight-restoring treatments and surgeries.
“Many people are very kind-hearted and stretched a helping hand immediately to those in need of masks and personal protective equipment, which are live-saving during COVID-19. Yet the current economic downturn will make the grassroots lose their jobs directly.” She is afraid that sight treatments and surgeries which are not life threatening will be put at a low priority, and people may not donate to help prevent avoidable blindness in underprivileged communities..
Agnes believes that The Fred Hollows Foundation’s efforts to collaborate with local clinics and training local doctors who serve remote locales is the right approach. “We need the next generation of eye health professionals and this cannot be stopped. I wish the Hong Kong public can continue to donate and work with The Foundation to restore sight for people.”