1. A paradigm for rural partnerships
Dr. James Guzek

2. Ethiopia
Aira

3. In 2009, I got an e-mail from someone I had never met.
Dr. Larry Thomas

5. January 2010 trip Supplies provide by SEE International.
We did 56 surgeries in 5 days.
ENTRY LEVEL - PROVIDING SERVICE

6. Returning to the USA, I spoke to my Rotary club
They wanted to fully equip an eye operating room LEVEL 2

7. Operating microscope from Sunrise Rotary
Teaching arm from
Columbia Center Rotary

8. When I had a fully-equipped operating room, I asked myself:
What about getting a local eye doctor to use our equipment to do cataract surgery more regularly?

9. Only one national ophthalmologist in the region
Dr. Samuel Bora
Finished his residency in 2009

10. Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Bora

11. 2012
Dr. Samuel did 800 MSICS in Aira and 400 MSICS in DD.

12. In September 2012, we got news
Because of his poor salary, Dr. Samuel would be moving to Addis.
There was no replacement for him.

13. Truth be told…
National ophthalmologists—like Dr. Samuel—who want to work in difficult rural circumstances deserve to be supported w/o having to endure financial penalties.
For someone doing 1200 surgeries per year in rural Africa, would it not be reasonable to make $25,000 to 30,000/yr?

14. What to do? Be BOLD. Hire Dr. Samuel!
Pay Dr. Samuel’s a reasonable salary for 1 week/month at Dembi Dollo or at eye camps.
We would fund-raise for the disposables

15. Dr. Samuel accepted 1 week/month at outreach for us.
1 week/month at Aira Hospital.

16. Fund-raising
Larry had years of fund-raising experience and took me by the hand, teaching me step by step.
Appeals to Churches
Raffle of trip to Italy (donated by Trafalgar)
Direct mailing/ blasts to donors
Appeals to Rotary clubs
District grants from Rotary
Himalayan Cataract Project

17. I told people …
Costs $50/cataract to restore sight to a blind person.

18. Inaugural year
Dr. Samuel performed 2806 cataract surgeries at Aira, Dembi Dolo, Gambela and many remote places.
2014: 3502
2015: 3676
2016: 1806 (6 months)

19. 2016: 20-person bus purchased
Major donor from Europe through D.O.C.
Part of the funding provided by GGS.

21. This is a paradigm…
for supporting national ophthalmologists in Africa that might be duplicated by other American ophthalmologists.

22. It begins with a relationship
Do you know an ophthalmologist in Africa who is doing great work who you think could do a lot more surgery if supported?

23. First steps
Provide equipment so that the national ophthalmologist can do excellent surgery at the base hospital (microscope, A-scan, keratometer)
Demand excellent outcomes.
Encourage outreach to fixed hospitals.
Don’t undermine profitability of base hospital.

24. Collaborate / share credit
SEE
HCP
Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis
THAF
GGS
Churches

25. Salary of ophthalmologist must be commensurate with work
Salary for ophthalmologist:
Base salary – probably already be in place
Incentive pay – per cataract ($15/case?)
Support the cost of disposables, travel expenses for team, meals, per diem, etc. for outreach surgery

26. Need someone like Sr. Evelyn
Logistics / planning
Paymaster
Accountant
Trustworthy

27. Only a very few national ophthalmologists in Africa will be found to be interested in/able to do high volume MSICS.

28. Thank You