Haag-Streit UK makes donation to Himalaya Eye Hospital in Nepal

Haag-Streit UK recently donated a selection of products to the Himalaya Eye Hospital in Nepal to help treat eye patients in one of the poorest regions of the world.

Amongst the selection of products we sent, was a Perkins hand-held tonometer, Snellen charts, Ophthalmic drapes, Orbital implants – 12 each of 12mm, 14mm and 21mm, Single use scissors, Single use speculums and Single use callipers.

Himalaya Eye Hospital (HEH) was established in 1993. Before the hospital was built, volunteer doctors from the Netherlands would visit three zones in Nepal - Karnali, Gandaki and Dhaulagiri. These outreach programmes, known as eye camps, were a lifeline to Nepalese eye patients, but over time the programme was not sustainable. Now HEH offers a permanent base, in a building that was designed by an Australian architect in a Nepali style. It was built with a sustainable approach, to reduce the environmental impact and encourage acceptance of the hospital building, local people were employed to construct it in a traditional way, instead of using heavy machinery.

HEH offers a wide range of services including an investigation unit, an oculoplastic clinic, a paediatric unit, a cornea transplant service, a glaucoma clinic, and a minor surgery unit, amongst others.

Their vision is to have a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in eye care services, with their motto being: ‘no one should be deprived of eye care services for economic or other reasons that may be the barriers to eye care services’.

Dean Johnson, HS-UK Managing Director said, “HS-UK were delighted to be able to donate this ophthalmic equipment to help the Himalaya Eye Hospital. Their inspiring work allows eyecare services to reach some of the most deprived regions in Nepal and we hope the donation aids both eyecare professionals and their patients in the fight against preventable blindness.”

Ms Jennifer Tan from the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who assisted with the donation, passed on her gratitude. She said: “I would like to formally thank Haag-Streit for its generosity and extend our thanks on behalf of the people of Pokhara.”

For more information about this donation, please call Haag-Streit UK on (01279) 883807 or email info.unitedkingdom@haag-streit.com.