Led by Dr Mark Ellis AM, Foresight Australia – AUD$50,000
Project location: Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
The Sumba Eye Program (SEP), initiated in 2007 and now integrated with Foresight Australia since 2021, is dedicated to mitigating eye health disparities on the island of Sumba, Indonesia. This project seeks to expand the impact of the SEP by focusing on the rural and often marginalized communities of Sumba, particularly indigenous populations who face significant barriers to accessing quality eye care due to geographic isolation, socioeconomic factors, and limited local healthcare infrastructure.
The necessity for the SEP stems from significant disparities in eye health within Indonesia, particularly in remote areas like Sumba. The SEP primarily aims to serve the rural and often marginalized communities of Sumba, focusing on indigenous populations who are disproportionately affected by eye health disparities. These groups face significant barriers to accessing quality eye care due to geographic isolation, socioeconomic factors, and limited local healthcare infrastructure. The program specifically targets these vulnerable populations to reduce the incidence of preventable blindness and improve overall community health outcomes.
The Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness surveys conducted recently highlighted that in certain Indonesia regions, the prevalence of blindness is markedly higher due to insufficient access to eye care services and a lack of trained eye health professionals. Sumba, an underserved region with limited healthcare infrastructure, epitomizes these challenges, where preventable conditions such as cataracts and diabetic retinopathy frequently lead to irreversible blindness.
This program is critical as it tackles these disparities head-on by providing essential eye care services including surgeries and screenings, which are otherwise inaccessible to the Sumba population. Moreover, it places a strong emphasis on sustainability through the training and empowerment of local health workers. By equipping local Eye Care Nurses (ECNs) with the skills to perform eye examinations and basic treatments, the program fosters self-sufficiency and ensures ongoing care within the community.
The program leverages the expertise of Australian and Indonesian ophthalmologists to deliver comprehensive eye care to the island of Sumba, one of the most underserved regions in the Asia-Pacific. With a strong focus on capacity building and sustainable healthcare practices, the SEP has conducted over 1,200 surgeries, primarily for cataracts, and provided extensive eye examinations for over 18,000 individuals, distributing 13,000 low-cost spectacles.
The funding received from ANZEF will be to support activities including monthly eye clinics, distribution of essential ophthalmic equipment, and ongoing profession development for local healthcare providers.
ANZEF is the philanthropic arm of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO).
RANZCO is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Charities Services in New Zealand (registration no: CC53935).
Charity donations to ANZEF of $2 or more in Australia and $5 or more in New Zealand are tax-deductible.
ANZEF acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters throughout the world, and to their Elders and ancestors, past and present.
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