Samoa
Samoa is a naturally beautiful country but is isolated and remote, making it hard to treat avoidable blindness.
What are the eye health problems?
A 2007 survey found that cataract was the leading cause of blindness followed by glaucoma, diabetes eye disease and eye injuries. Cataract and uncorrected refractive error were responsible for 56 per cent of visual impairment, with diabetes eye disease accountable for 13 per cent. In most cases, uncorrected refractive errors can be easily solved with a pair of glasses.
Samoa has a large diabetic population who require screening and treatment for diabetes eye disease. We began a diabetes eye disease screening programme in 2017 and supported the eye care team to establish a diabetes eye care programme.
Our work in Samoa
Samoa has one permanent eye doctor who graduated from the Pacific Eye Institute in 2016 and an optometrist who won the Queen’s Young Leaders Award in 2014. These two local female leaders are doing a wonderful job in leading Samoa's national eye care programme, meaning we can scale back our outreaches to Samoa. We’ll continue to support the local team through our workforce support programme, ensuring our graduates have suitable clinics, retain their skills and confidence, and receive support from their government.
Progress in sight
- Since 2016, the eye care team have established an effective diabetes eye disease programme to increase awareness of the effects of diabetes on the eye.
- In 2016, Dr Lucilla Ah Ching-Sefo returned to Samoa after graduating from the Pacific Eye Institute with a Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology.
- 1 active Foundation-supported eye doctor (1 Foundation-sponsored graduate)
- 12 active Foundation-supported eye nurses (all Foundation-sponsored graduates)
- 20 Foundation-sponsored eye nurse graduates