Specialists meet after three years

AFTER a lapse of three years the Pacific Eye Care Society (PacEyes) held a two-day conference on Friday for eye clinicians from 13 Oceania countries at the Holiday Inn in Suva.
The conference provided a platform for Pacific eye health leaders to celebrate success and discuss challenges and opportunities for eye health.
The Pacifi c Community (SPC), Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) and the International Agency of Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) were support partners of the conference.
PacEyes president Dr Elenoa Matoto Raikabakaba said regional level approaches to meet eye care demand across the region were crucial.
“Given that it would take significant time and resources to develop ophthalmic specialist and subspecialist service capacity,” she said.
“This is particularly vital as it is not feasible for some countries to have a permanent ophthalmologist.”
SPC deputy director general Dr Paula Vivili said he was humbled with the work that had been done to build a strong regional workforce.
“They are able to increasingly meet eye care demand in the region but we cannot be complacent,” he said.
Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand CEO Dr Audrey Aumua said they were committed to continuing with the Ministry of Health and training partners — Fiji National University, University of Papua New Guinea and Divine University “to ensure the continued growth and resilience of the ophthalmic workforce.”