REI staff forge further links with Eye Services in Nepal

Members of staff from the REI at Derriford Hospital have visited the Children's Eye, Ear and Rehabilitation Hospital (CHEERS) in Katmandu, Nepal.

Following a very successful first trip two years ago, a second team visited in November 2016. The team included Julie Owen, Senior Orthoptist, Tim Freegard, Paediatric Ophthalmic Specialist, Vasant Raman, Retinal Specialist and was led by Bharat Shresthra, Associate Specialist, who is originally from Nepal himself.

CHEERS is the first dedicated paediatric facility in Nepal and was founded in 2012 by BP Eye Foundation, a Nepalese non-government organisation. During this short time, the hospital has established itself not only as an eye and ear hospital but also as a rehabilitation centre. Since inception, it has supported 26 blind children to reintegrate and attend normal school.

The REI Team at the hospital The work of the Plymouth team included paediatric eye screening programmes in schools and outpatient clinics for selected patients to receive operations and expert advice. This was supplemented with a series of tutorials and seminars enabling the sharing of many ideas, including the planned development of a retinal screening programme.

Bharat Shresthra said: "The REI team were impressed with the services provided, especially given the limited resources. There is an ambitious program planned to provide outreach community paediatric and retinal eye screening by educating and training local health staff to do the initial screening. Empowering them will help deliver health to remote areas. In addition, the hospital delivers frThe REI Team at the hospitalee healthcare to every patient who turns up at the hospital seeking medical attention.

"Nepal is a developing country with limited structured health care. The hilly terrain makes delivery of health care a challenge. The external support CHEERS receives from visitors such as Plymouth and a Japanese team from Tokushima University significantly enhances its work. Staff from the REI raised a sum of £500.00 towards a donation for CHEERS."

In two years’ time, another visit is planned with the ophthalmic team. More information about CHEERS can be found at: http://www.bpeyefoundation.org/NewsDetails.aspx/id/38. If you are a medical student and interested in the experience that CHEERS offers for elective study in healthcare, please visit: http://www.bpeyefoundation.org/Electives.aspx