New World Medical, Inc., a privately held ophthalmic company dedicated to developing cutting-edge glaucoma medical devices intended to alleviate the suffering of patients globally, has selected the John A. Moran Eye Center鈥檚 Global Outreach Division to receive its annual Humanitarian Project Award.
The $50,000 award will support the division鈥檚 mission to create sustainable eye care systems by teaching and training physicians and nurses in developing nations where there is little or no eye care available. The division, which will be honored at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting in May, plans to use the funds to expand its long-term commitment in Tanzania, a country with just one ophthalmologist for every 1.6 million people.
Partnership in Tanzania
Since 2014, the division has partnered with the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital at the University of Dodoma and the Tanzanian Ministry of Health to train ophthalmologists. has provided more than 1,300 sight-restoring surgeries and increased the surgical output at Benjamin Mkapa threefold.
Moran is working with Frank Sandi, MD, who is the only ophthalmologist teaching at the University of Dodoma and is now opening a surgical center thanks to training by Moran physicians. Sandi visited Moran as an observer and continues to improve his surgical skills and output.
Expanding Training
Moran is now working to replicate the successful Dodoma training model in the northern city of Mwanza, the country鈥檚 most populated region. Physicians have been working with Evarista Mgaya, MD, and Christopher Mwanansao, MD, through training exchanges and hands-on surgical teaching. Mgaya and Mwanansao are working toward establishing their own residency program to increase the number of ophthalmologists who can provide care to the 5 million people in the region.
Learn more about Moran鈥檚 international outreach work around the world and in Utah here.