Ruli

Free Cataract Surgery Program in Rural Indonesia

Cataract is the world’s leading of blindness. I arrange Free Cataract Surgery Program in Rural Indonesia is program to tackle blindness problem in Indonesia. Based on statistic data from WHO, in the Universal Eye Health Program 90% people with visually impaired live in developing country. Epidemiology study from Husain, R et.al tittled Prevalence of Cataract in Rural Indonesia (Ophthalmology 2005;112:1255–1262 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology) stated that the prevalence of cataract in rural Sumatera is 21,9% which reach 82,8% number on people above 60 years old. Blindness due to cataract is preventable, thus cataract surgery is one of the effective way in achieving free blindness aspiration. One of the biggest obstacle in implementing free blindness program is geographic factor because Indonesia is an archipelago state where health service disparity in rural area is inevitable. Thus, conducting free cataract surgery in rural area is challenging as well as fundamental to solve cataract problem in Indonesia.

In order to arrange effectively implemented project, I’ve done study to several similar program in other country. The details of the programs and my opinions are explained below:

Malawi
Addressing cataract in rural Malawi: the Nkhoma Eye Programme

Swaziland
The potential impact of a cataract surgery programme on the care of orphans and vulnerable children in Swazilan

China
Factors Influencing the Success of Rural Cataract Surgery Programs in China: The Study of Hospital Administration and Relative Productivity (SHARP)
Implementation of a Free Cataract Surgery Program in Rural China

India
Cataract Surgery From Camps In Rural Community Only Way to Overcome Backlog