Surgeons, nurses, technicians, researchers, managers, policymakers, and trainees gathered in Suva yesterday for the three-day Fiji Ophthalmic Talanoa Workshop at Suva’s Holiday Inn.
Chief guest Peter Raynes, who is the program director at The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, said over the past 15 years the Pacific Eye Institute with its partners the Fiji National University and the Pacific’s ministries of health, have been at the heart of strengthening eye health across the Pacific.
It has trained 227 ophthalmologists and eye nurses across 14 Pacific Island countries, built networks of support across the region, and fostered research and innovation tailored to Pacific needs.
Mr Raynes said the workshop brought together technical specialists and local experts to provide a rare and valuable space to update participants’ knowledge, compare approaches, and discuss what works best in Pacific settings.
The workshop will allow participants to:
- Deepen our understanding of biometry, SICS and phacoemulsification, IVI techniques, and responding to other conditions, guided by leading experts;
- Explore the challenges and adaptations required for Pacific health systems;
- Empower nurses and technicians to apply skills in diverse and sometimes resource-limited settings; and,
- Ensure that every new insight is linked to the ultimate outcome: better vision and better lives for the communities we serve.
