Support in sight for East Timor Eye Program

The coastal and isolated community of Oecussi, Timor-Leste will receive further eye health and First Aid support from both the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and St John Ambulance Australia (SJAA), as a result of an extension of partnership for a further three years just signed between both parties.

The agreement, in support of the East Timor Eye Program (ETEP), will ensure that Oecussi’s residents continue to receive annual consultations and surgical care from visiting Australian eye teams. This includes prescribed spectacles, sunglasses and mobility aids in addition to medical supplies. Timor-Leste has a large rural population, with 72% of the population residing in remote areas. Many people suffering from avoidable eye conditions such as cataracts reside in rural communities and it is not uncommon for family members to travel for hours to access medical services.
 
In a collaboration lasting more than eight years, SJAA has provided personnel support to the region through volunteers who deliver First Aid Training including resuscitation and First Aid supplies, alongside financial support to the Program for ophthalmology and optometry outreach. The SJAA team train ambulance officers and nursing staff in the Oecussi Referral hospital and community centres. The ETEP team including ophthalmologists, optometrists and nurses are also involved in training the national health personnel.
 
SJAA provides a generous AUD $35,000 in financial support annually to the Program. The partnership with SJAA leads to significantly improved health outcomes for Timorese patients based in Oecussi. RACS Global Health provides medical education, training and capacity development to Timor-Leste and 16 other developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. The RACS vision is that safe and timely surgical, medical and anaesthetic care is available and accessible to everyone who needs it.
 
Oecussi, a landlocked Timorese district, is a coastal enclave therefore access to this district can be a challenging journey. Thanks to the support of the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) General Charter, visiting personnel from Australia are able to provide medical support and supplies. For more information about the East Timor Eye Program visit: etep.org.au