The manager of Clinical Services at the international NGO Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand Timor-Leste Belmerio Jeronimo said the National Eye Center (NEC) is conducting mobile checkups across all 13 municipalities in Timor-Leste.
“We inform the community about their eye health status,” said Manager Belmerio in his office in Bidau, Dili.
During the checkups, community members requiring eye surgery such as cataract removal are identified and referred to the national clinic or overseas for more complex procedures.
According to data collected some 40% of the population already screened suffers from blurred vision due to cataracts, red-eye, and eye cancer or require prescribed glasses.
Manager Belarmino added that most Timorese aged above 30 years old are far-sighted and need to use reading glasses because they lack vitamin c.
Meanwhile National Member of Parliament MP Jorge da Conceicao Teme said he appreciates the work of the NEC because it is restoring the vision of the community.
The MP urged the government to prioritize this issue because Timor-Leste still lacks Timorese ophthalmologists.
“I recommend that the Health Ministry works with partners to expand the services of the National Eye Centre so that it can provide care to more people with eye diseases,” added MP Teme.
The National Eye Centre is funded and supported by international NGO The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand.
