subject: Usa Eye Specialists To Visit Mission At Natuvu Creek In Buca Bay, Fiji [print this page] Two teams of eye specialists from the USA visited the Mission at Natuvu Creek in Buca Bay, Fiji beginning May 1, 2010 to perform a minimum of 110 cataract and pterygium surgeries for patients who were pre-screened during an October visit last year.
Led by Dr. Gordon Johns, M.D, an ophthalmologist in private practice from Chehalis, Washington, the first team of seven specialists, including nurses and technicians, brought all the necessary medical supplies, donated by the SEE International, AMO and Alcon needed for these life changing surgeries.
MNC co-founder Dr. Tom Tooma, M.D, also an ophthalmologist from Newport Beach, California, arrived two days later to perform 50 pterygium operations with his team.
Commending Dr. Johns team, Dr. Tooma said: Im very happy Gordon and his team will come serve again. These surgeries are invaluable for people whose lives are seriously affected because of limited eyesight.
Dr. Tooma, whos been visiting Fiji for the last 12 years with his family, says the cataracts which are prevalent in Fiji are an acute type because they cause blindness. He is committed to bringing at least two teams a year to perform cataract surgeries and create awareness about their prevention.
The Mission at Natuvu Creek will provide free eye glasses to those who would benefit from a simple, but often unaffordable solution if they visit the Mission during the screening days. Lenses will be crafted for every persons personalized prescription.
Dr. Tooma will also be bringing an autoclave machine for sterilizing equipment for surgery. It works five times faster than the common sterilizing machine which is currently used by the clinic. Were dedicated to equipping the clinic with state of the art equipment so patients coming to the Mission receive first class treatment, said Dr. Tooma.
The Ministry of Health is impressed with the clinic and appreciates the work of the Mission at Natuvu Creek and quality of the medical teams that come to serve. Were grateful to the Tooma Family Foundation for building a state-of-art clinic with modern equipment for visiting medical teams like Dr. Johns team, says Deputy Secretary of Hospital Services, Dr. Eloni Tora.
Dr. Tora states the work of the Mission at Natuvu Creek will go a long way to address the prevalence of cataract disease in Fiji caused by harmful ultra violet rays of the sun. Dr. Johns team left on May 11th after a few days of holiday, while Dr. Tooma and his team stayed until May 15th.
