The Situbondo program, along with two other offshore programs in Java in this two-month period resulted in 818 blind people receiving sight-restoring operations, while a further 83 blind people were operated in Bali programs.
SALATIGA, CENTRAL JAVA
In early September, our team returned from an offshore screening and operating program in Salatiga, Central Java, initiated by alumni of the Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta and supported by donations from FeelGood Designs and Geoffrey Hewlett.
As this was the first time JFF has conducted a program in this area, there was quite an amount of preparation to be done in the months prior to the visit, including gaining authorisation from the local Department of Health, and establishing cooperative agreements with the local ophthalmologists’ association (PERDAMI). JFF hopes to do further work in Central Java and this preparatory work will make this possible.
Over three days, the team screened 3,176 people with eye problems, distributed glasses to 2,596 and treated 680 for eye infections. Sixty-three blind people received sight-restoring operations onsite in two of JFF’s mobile eye clinics.
BANYUWANGI, EAST JAVA
September saw a second program in Banyuwangi, East Java for 2019, supported by the Australian Government’s Friendship Grant, Reliable Education and Buy1Give1.
Over five days the team screened 2,101 people with eye problems, distributed glasses to 1,340 and treated 540 with eye infections. Eight ophthalmologists from PERDAMI East Java Branch restored sight to 330 cataract blind people. The team also checked the eyes of 550 school children in Banyuwangi.
