In October several members of our team travelled to Timika in West Papua to conduct a second training program in eye-screening and checking for cataracts for 40 government nurses working in health clinics.This 15-day program was a combined effort involving our Foundation, the mining company Freeport, local government and the Department of Health.
The incidence of cataracts inTimika is very high, and more than 60% of the population is in the lower-socio-economic group with poor access to specialised medical treatment. To help the local people, Freeport is planning to set up in the area of its mining activities a Sight Restoration Program with a mobile eye clinic under our Foundation’s auspices and control.