The Koala loves a good news story on how Australian institutions and students make their mark and assist communities abroad. This is a great one!
A collaborative ophthalmology training event, supported by the Australian Catholic University (ACU), is transforming eye care in rural Nepal by equipping frontline health workers with the skills to detect early signs of childhood eye cancer.
Held in partnership with Open Eyes Nepal (OEN) and the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO) in Kathmandu, the event trained 50 primary health care professionals, student nurses, and optometry students to identify retinoblastoma—the most common form of eye cancer in children.
Using the Arclight, a low-cost, portable diagnostic tool, trainees learned to detect early symptoms of retinoblastoma, a disease that affects around 50 children in Nepal each year. The training, delivered by TIO’s Dr Purnima Rajkarnikar Sthapit and Dr Sushant Adiga with support from the Open Eyes Nepal team, included hands-on evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the instruction. Each participant received an Arclight device free of charge.
“This training opportunity provided important clinical skills development for primary health care professionals who are often the only available resource for people living in regional and rural villages,” said Dr Rajkarnikar. “Equipping them with the skills to identify retinoblastoma as early as possible can increase opportunities for effective treatment.”
The initiative is part of a broader, multi-year collaboration between ACU, OEN, and TIO that began in 2023. Through this partnership, ACU has also supported the treatment and prosthetic rehabilitation of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma at TIO. To date, more than 40 children have received free care as part of the program, which is backed by a four-year funding agreement with OEN, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing free treatment to affected children.
The benefits of the partnership extend beyond Nepal. Recently, ten ACU Bachelor of Nursing students and two instructors travelled to TIO for clinical placements. During their visit, they gained hands-on experience in various ophthalmic settings, including surgery, emergency care, prosthetics, and outpatient services. The experience gave students a unique insight into ophthalmology as a potential career path and the challenges of delivering healthcare in low-resource settings.
“Our partnership with TIO is just one example of ACU’s commitment to international collaborations that enhance the dignity of people and communities around the world,” said Chris Riley, ACU’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Global and Education Pathways). “What started out as a community engagement initiative has expanded to become an invaluable clinical development opportunity for ACU students, staff, and health care professionals across Nepal.”
Congratulations to ACU, keep up the good work!
