Three European ophthalmologists and a nurse are on their way to operate poor people far up in the Himalayas. Over a handful of days, they plan to operate the eyes of hundreds of Nepalese.
Most people would probably politely decline to spend their laboriously accumulated vacation on helping poor people in such a distant place as the Himalayas. Nevertheless, this is what three European ophthalmologists and a nurse are about to do right now.
– We go to Nepal to help as many people as we can possibly overcome. The need is great for eye operations far up in the mountains because local people are suffering from especially cataract as a result of poor and lacking nutrition. We expect to operate somewhere between 200 and 400 patients during the five days we are in the field clinic, explains ophthalmologist Jannik Boberg-Ans of EuroEyes, who makes up one quarter of the European mission. He explains that this year’s expedition is just one in a row. Previously, the European doctors have been to Peru, Lesotho and the Dominican Republic. In 2015, the Myanmar can look forward to the assistance of the eye surgeons.
The Joy of Giving
For the European ophthalmologists it is worth taking some time off for helping others when receiving a lot of good experiences in return. You have to be extremely unemotional if you do not feel happy inside when experiencing the difference made by the operations. Some say that the joy of giving is the greatest joy of all, and we feel the sincerity of this joy when helping people who would otherwise be in a desperate situation, says Jannik Boberg-Ans, who has on previous missions experienced the locals’ zest for life in spite of hopeless conditions.
The European ophthalmologists are in Nepal to support a local surgeon who runs an eye hospital project. Thus, the project lives longer than the few days the European ophthalmologists are in Nepal, and according to Jannik Boberg-Ans this further boosts the doctors’ satisfaction with the project. – It is good to know there is still hope for those we do not manage to treat. You cannot help everyone, but we certainly do what we can in the time we are there, the ophthalmologist says.
Equipment Sponsored by EuroEyes
The four Europeans even pay their stay and travel themselves while equipment and medications have mainly been sponsored by EuroEyes. – The workplace has supported the idea from the start. Hence, we do not have other expenses than the ones of travelling and staying in the Himalayas, explains Jannik Boberg-Ans.
Joern S. Joergensen, CEO and founder of EuroEyes, welcomes the doctors’ efforts and is full of admiration for their commitment. – We are very proud to have employees who are so dedicated to eye surgery, and compassionated enough to travel that far and voluntarily operate fellow human beings. We know that the people operated greatly benefit from the help and it is therefore natural for us to support the project, he says.
In cooperation with local colleagues, the three ophthalmologists are able to help hundreds of people during the expedition with eliminating cataract that inhibit the vision. European EuroEyes patients have donated over 500 discarded glasses that will be distributed to the people of the local populace who need it the most.
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