This had been an interesting year with COVID lockdowns. Australia and Indonesia have been reeling under the burden of this pandemic. However, the SEP has been active in the background. Although there have been no Australian teams going over to Sumba in 2020, we are still actively engaged in supporting eye care in this far low resourced community on this Eastern Indonesian Island.
Our last trip was in August 2019. The two usual trips were naturally cancelled with the pandemic spreading rapidly round the world. We are still supported by Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), Rotary, RACS and your kind donations.
We have trained 4 eye care nurses (ECN), who are commanding eye clinics on the Island as part of their general medical duties. Dr Claus Bogh and the Sumba Foundation are very much involved in delivering health care in malaria, general medicine and eye care. The SEP sponsors 4 of the nurses from within the Sumba Foundation, using your donations. 1) Sr NefrianaButa Rade (Nefry) - Who now has a young boy Marco. 2) Sr Mutiara Sany, 3) Sr Elsiana Tamo Ina (Elsie), and 4) Sr Jovin Mano. All have benefited from gratis training at the John FawcettThe SEP sponsored Sany for a 4 week Surgical Ophthalmic training course, under the care of Dr Adelina Poli at the UNHAS 
(University of Hasanuddin), Makassar, Sulawesi. The idea was that she would be upskilled to assist the ophthalmic surgeons during cataract surgery. Independently, the local team has conducted eye care clinics on the island with Sr Nefry sending back an audit of the ages, diagnoses and visions to assist our surveys of the areas. In October, they held eye clinics in Hobawawi, Lamboya and Kodi. These clinics are held within the Sumba Foundation Health Clinics.
(University of Hasanuddin), Makassar, Sulawesi. The idea was that she would be upskilled to assist the ophthalmic surgeons during cataract surgery. Independently, the local team has conducted eye care clinics on the island with Sr Nefry sending back an audit of the ages, diagnoses and visions to assist our surveys of the areas. In October, they held eye clinics in Hobawawi, Lamboya and Kodi. These clinics are held within the Sumba Foundation Health Clinics.The Ophthalmologists in UNHAS including my friends, Dr Polii and Dr Abrar, have all been hit hard during COVID. “We're doing fine. Almost back to normal". Surgeries are back, patients are back. Hopefully, next year we can all go back to Sumba again.” Prof Habbibah, who is a strong supporter of our work states “We have already started cataract charity programs besides regular surgeries, however, still performed at the Hasanuddin University Hospital. If the conditions are getting better, consider other districts. For Sumba, hope for next year.”
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has now come under stable leadership in their Global Health Department under the leadership of Ms. Philippa Nicholson. Ms. Giang Nguyen, Grants and Partnerships Manager, has been appointed to oversee the administration of the SEP. All fundraising, no matter what form it is in coming from the RACS mailouts, will go to the SEP as long as you indicate that your donation is intended for the Sumba Eye Program. That way you still obtain the charity tax relief from your donation.The Future??
Our team is ready to return. Dr Ellis is now an honorary lecturer at UNHAS and presented the SEP audit results at their International Conference in September 2019 in Makassar. Ms.Nguyen has been able to complete a MOU with the UNHAS Ophthalmology Department for us to work in cooperation under their wing. The aim for the SEP is to eventually hand over the program to the locals, but life in the form of the COVID Pandemic has dealt this a strange blow. We can only work and support from afar. Dr Ellis is regularly providing advice over the internet about cases when the ECNs need assistance.
Our team is ready to return. Dr Ellis is now an honorary lecturer at UNHAS and presented the SEP audit results at their International Conference in September 2019 in Makassar. Ms.Nguyen has been able to complete a MOU with the UNHAS Ophthalmology Department for us to work in cooperation under their wing. The aim for the SEP is to eventually hand over the program to the locals, but life in the form of the COVID Pandemic has dealt this a strange blow. We can only work and support from afar. Dr Ellis is regularly providing advice over the internet about cases when the ECNs need assistance.
Mr.Peter Lewis and Stewart have been negotiating spectacles to be provided by Indonesian companies. They have also set up Frankie, one of our first interpreters in his own “Mitra Matra Optican” shop in Waikabubak. It is difficult with communication but we are wanting to go and check him out.
Publications
Mark F Ellis, Stephanie Korin, Muh Abrar Ismail MA, et al. Methodology and BaselineFindings of the SumbaEye Program. 2018 Bali Journal of Ophthalmology 2(1):21-27.DOI:10.15562/bjo.v1i1.10
Dr Mark F Ellis AM
Director Sumba Eye Program