ETEP Documentary – Mangoes for Doctors
In 2008, a documentary was filmed on the ETEP program - the history of country, the status of the nation’s eye health services, the problem of avoidable blindness, and the mission of the program to provide the gift of sight. The documentary features interviews with then Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, ETEP’s founder Nitin Verma, plus volunteers Kevin Vandeleur, John Kearney, Andrew Koch and Andrew Lovejoy.
Stay tuned for a new ETEP documentary coming soon!
Our Patron President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta
President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta is a long time supporter and patron of the East Timor Eye Program.
“I first became aware fo the work of the East Timor Eye Program in 2001 when I visited the Dili Nacional Hospital and saw the optometrists, nurses and surgeons at work.
In the past eight years they have given the gift of sight back to many thousands of people here in Timor-Leste. Tens of thousands of people have also received glasses, meaning they were able to reclaim their independence and continue working.
The Government of Timor-Leste has supported the activities of the Australian eye doctors and volunteers. We also support the strong links that have been forged between the Australian members of this team and Timor-Leste.
Thank you to Dr Nitin Verma and Mr Andrew Maver and to their dozens of fellow medical workers and volunteers who have helped my country’s people regain their sight in this period when Timor is still finding its feet as the world’s newest nation. I wish you continued success, and an ongoing welcome in Timor-Leste.”
Areas of Focus – Eye Care Services
Each year, visiting eye teams from Australia travel to East Timor to distribute spectacles, perform consultations and operations over 1 – 2 week visits. Six specialist visits are made each year and approximately 600 – 800 patients are treated on each visit with 100 – 150 patients receiving sight restoring surgery. The eye teams are predominantly based at the referral hospitals to service the remote communities.
The main type of eye surgery carried out by the visiting teams is cataract surgery. The team consists of eye surgeons, optometrists and nurses who volunteer their time and skills free of cost to improve eye care in Timor Leste.
The eye surgeons, optometrists, and nurses who make up the eye teams volunteer their time and skills free of cost.
The ETEP is also committed to establishing sub-specialty clinics in Timor Leste. In 2009, the Program delivered a corneal and retinal clinic in Dili and the country’s first corneal transplants were performed successfully.
The Program is also working to set up paediatric ophthalmology, glaucoma and oculoplastic surgery services in the near future.
Areas of Focus – Capacity Building
ETEP works closely with the East Timor Ministry of Health to select & train local staff to improve local capacity. By training and upskilling of Timorese eye health personnel, this ensures a long-term, sustainable and appropriate eye care program providing preventive and curative eye-care to the people of East Timor.
Through the ETEP, the first Timorese eye surgeon completed his training and qualified with a Masters in International Ophthalmology from the University of Sydney at the end of 2008. In early 2009, the ETEP recruited an expatriate ophthalmologist to work at Dili national hospital to provide services and mentor the newly qualified Timorese ophthalmologist.
Over the next few years, the Program aims to train a second ophthalmologist to further strengthen national capacity. The Program is also focused on training and upskilling local ophthalmic nurses. On the job training is provided to existing eye nurses through the visiting teams in country and the Program aims to support 4 to 6 more ophthalmic nurses for overseas training to further strengthen local capacity.
Areas of Focus – Eye Clinic upgrades in the Districts
Access to eye care services 
is particularly difficult for people living in the more rural areas of East Timor. It is not uncommon for family members to travel for hours by foot to access medical treatment including eye care services. With most of the population living on less that USD0.55 per day, it is also very expensive for families to make the long journey to seek treatment.
The Program is committed to expanding eye care services to the most remote and disadvantaged communities of East Timor. To help achieve this, the Program is equipping the referral hospitals in the districts with surgical microscopes and diagnostic equipment including slit lamps and lasers.
Plans for the Future
To achieve the Program’s overarching goal of eradicating preventable blindness by 2020, in the coming years the Program will focus on:
Expanding service delivery to the districts and sub-districts to ensure that the most remote communities are able to access quality eye care services
- Fully equipping the referral hospitals throughout Timor Leste with up to date ophthalmology equipment
- Establishing an effective outreach program in-country managed by the national ophthalmology team to gradually decrease dependence on visiting teams from Australia
- Establishing sub-speciality clinics in-country
- Strengthening local capacity through training of 3 – 4 additional ophthalmologists and further up-skilling team of ophthalmic nurses
- Setting up tele-ophthalmology services in-country as a clinical and educational resource for the local ophthalmology team
