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We encourage the development of long term links between centres in the UK and in developing countries.
We have developed strong professional and personal links with the team working in a hospital foundation in Paraguay (Fundación Visión).
We have supported a nurse working in Mongolia
We have taught junior doctors in Sri Lanka.
A surgeon in Azerbaijan has been supported financially and technically in the treatment of a child with blinding glaucoma.
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We provide travel assistance to help volunteers to get to the chosen country to work. This is generally limited to non-medical clinical staff who provide direct patient care. Living expenses in the country are paid by the volunteer.
We have helped our orthoptists with their travel expenses over the last 6 years.
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We collect and distribute healthcare equipment, disposables and medication.
Recently, a large container of equipment was delivered to Paraguay containing a medical laser, an ophthalmic camera, orthoptic equipment, surgical and anaesthetic equipment, disposables (needles etc) and textbooks.
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We try to provide education at all levels, from patients through doctors to politicians in the overseas country as well as in the UK.
The Fundación library has been supported with IT equipment and an online access to the University of Toronto medical library.
We supported the translation of the Journal of Community Eye Health (JCEH) into Spanish.
The charity has arranged for two trainee doctors to come to the UK to experience a different training system.
We have done the preliminary work for a cost of blindness study in Paraguay.
The Fundación tries to extend the training of socially aware doctors to surrounding countries and we are pleased to have helped with the training of doctors from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
At every visit, the resident doctors are subjected to intensive theoretical and practical training.
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We treat patients.
Every year, the Fundación team saves "difficult patients" for us to assess, treat and use for teaching.
We always try to treat patients in their own country if possible.
However, on several occasions, we have brought patients to the UK for specialist treatment.
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We fund treatment for patients.
Drugs used for surgery are funded.
We have funded surgical campaigns where doctors travel in their local communities to bring treatment to patients who cannot travel to the city.
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We support financially and technically appropriate screening programmes.
Approximately one third of children in blind schools have "retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)", a largely preventable and treatable blinding condition associated with premature birth.
We have supported a screening programme for ROP in Asunción, looking at administrative and logistical help, as well as nursing and medical skills.
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We offer financial support for trainee doctors.
In an attempt to broaden our influence we have this year set up a bursary to support those trainee doctors from poor areas who find it difficult to continue to fund their training. Unlike the UK, in many countries doctors in training do not get a wage and are supported by their families who need to provide living expenses as well as money for books and equipment.
Our plan for the future is to fund a scholarship where deserving students will be funded for one year of advanced study in a centre of excellence. This will need $10,000 to $15,000 each year.
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We try to work according to the philosophy of the Vision 2020 programme.
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