The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ

Free Wills Week is here! From today through til 9 September, you have the opportunity to write your online Will for FREE. Did you know that only 1 in 2 Kiwi's have a valid Will? That is why this offer is such an important opportunity to secure your loved one's future and leave a lasting impact. Once you’ve taken care of your loved ones, we hope you’ll consider leaving a gift in your Will to The Foundation. Leave more than a Will - leave a legacy. Visit our special Free Wills Week link today - https://buff.ly/4dZ6AjK To learn more about leaving a gift in your Will, email [email protected]

We are excited to announce that Free Wills Week is returning next week! Thanks to our trusted partner - Safewill, we are offering our amazing supporters like YOU the chance to write your online Will for FREE over the period 2 – 9 September – saving over $160. Writing a Will is one of the most important ways that you can protect your life’s work and ensure that your loved ones are taken care of. Learn more at https://buff.ly/3T8m2lo and secure your loved one's future.

Last week over 30 Pacific eye doctors participated in a Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) workshop in Suva, Fiji. Led by Dr Jason Cheng and Dr Nitin Verma from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), with support from Dr Mundi Qalo the Pacific Eye Institute's Chief Consultant Ophthalmologist, this workshop was a key step in enhancing eye care across the Pacific. Over the two days, participants engaged in live surgeries, hands-on sessions, and informative lectures to improve their MSICS techniques. These skills are vital for meeting the World Health Organisation's (WHO) target of 6/12 post-operative visual outcomes, helping to improve patient care in the region. We were fortunate to collaborate with experts Dr Parikshit Gogate, Dr Yogesh Rajguru, and Dr Shivram Nadkarni, who shared their knowledge and experience. The program covered a range of topics, from preoperative considerations to managing surgical complications, providing a well-rounded learning experience. Participant feedback highlighted the value of such workshops in supporting their ongoing learning and skill development. We thank Dr Jason Cheng, Dr Nitin Verma, Dr Mundi Qalo, and Dr John Szetu for their leadership and dedication. We are also grateful to the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) for their funding and to our partners—CWM Hospital, FNU, RANZCO, APAO, ISMICS, for their support in making this workshop possible. Together, we’re working toward a future where quality eye care is accessible to all. #EyeCare #MSICS #PacificHealth #FHFNZ #Vision2024 #CollaborativeCare

Collaborating with local partners is key to the work we do and the recent Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey in Samoa is a great example of this. Driven by the Samoan Ministry of Health, this survey aimed to identify the avoidable causes of blindness and how they can best approach it. Eye health is under-resourced across the Pacific. Because of this, little is known about the burden of eye diseases, and it is difficult to create effective plans to target this issue. Over 11 weeks, the RAAB survey team examined 4,440 people’s eyes, generating significant data that will provide the Samoa Ministry of Health with the evidence required to develop policies and direct its limited resources to where it is most needed. The RAAB team was locally led by Dr Lucilla Ah Ching-Sefo, Head of Ophthalmology, and Carol Auvaa, National Eye Coordinator. As local leaders, they were able to contextualise the survey methodology so that it worked for their people and culture. Working with the local team also builds capacity, so that they are confident to generate and lead future eye health research in their country. In the video below, Dr Iris Wainiqolo, The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ Research Lead, Dr Lucilla, and Carol, speak about the importance of this partnership, and how it led to the success of this project. This significant achievement was made possible with the support from the Samoa Ministry of Health, The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Lions Club International Foundation.

This #WorldHumanitarianDay we're celebrating our 2023 Humanity Awards Junior Ambassador, Harry Newman. Harry was nominated by his Principal, Hannah Moorhouse, for taking care of the people and environment around him. Harry lives near the Whinray Reserve, an ecological reserve for Kiwi. At the time of his nomination, Harry had helped release Kiwi hatchlings with the Department of Conservation and initiated a restoration of pathways in a reserve next to his school. Harry hasn’t taken his foot off the pedal since becoming our Junior Ambassador. He’s since been selected to take part in the Gisborne District School’s Aurora Leadership Course - for selected students to develop their potential as leaders of future change. The first activity the children were tasked with was raising money for Jammies 4 June Gizzy. Harry’s mum, Paula, said he took on the task with great enthusiasm: “Harry managed to raise $533. He was blown away by the amazing support he received and was stoked to be able to give back to his community through the charity.” Harry also continues to be a positive role model at Motu School and to be actively involved with the Whinray Reserve. ➡️ Do you know a Year 5 or 6 student who demonstrates humanitarian values like Harry? Nominate them for this year’s Humanity Awards here: https://buff.ly/3ST9yhA

Are you looking for a memorable experience, where you can get away from it all and enjoy some of the best scenery that the South Island has to offer, all the while making a difference by helping to end avoidable blindness in the Pacific? Then it’s time to jump on your bike and ride for The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ this summer! 🚴 🚴 🚴 The Alps 2 Ocean 2025, organised by non-profit business 25000spins, is a 7-day cycling adventure through the breathtaking alps of the South Island. When: January 30th – February 5th, 2025 Where: From Aoraki Mount Cook all the way to Ōamaru. Registration Fee: $1,393* (NZD) What’s included: ➡️ 6 nights of accommodation ➡️ Most breakfasts, lunches and snacks ➡️ Mechanical assistance ➡️ First aid ➡️ Team leaders ➡️ Support vehicle Fundraising required: Each rider must raise a minimum of $1,107*, with a goal of $1,661*. We will support you on your fundraising journey to help you achieve this goal. To sign up for the event, visit https://buff.ly/3SOw7E1, and be sure to select The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ as your charity of choice. Spots are limited so don’t delay! * Monetary values converted from AUD

We’ve got one more 2023 Fred Hollows Humanity Award's finalist to share with you! 🎉🎉🎉 Mareikura Tamainu attends Ranui School in Auckland. She speaks on behalf of the Rumaki Reo Māori through her oral skills and knowledge in both Te Reo Māori and English. She is a mediator, patroller and role model across the school and the community. Marekuira’s teacher, Cindy, gave her a wonderful nomination: “Mareikura has been an exemplary student since Year 1. She has demonstrated whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, aroha mai, aroha atu, aroha mo te taiao since she was a junior, up until now - where her skills, mātauranga and knowledge is demonstrated across the school, community and within the whānau,” she says. “Mareikura speaks and lives the values of whānau, care, aroha and tuakanatanga with her peers, teachers and juniors. Her nature is embedded with manaakitanga.” ➡️ Nominations for the 2024 Humanity Awards are now open! Visit our website and send us your nominations: https://buff.ly/3WGOz2N

A dedicated team has completed the first-ever Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey in Samoa. A RAAB is a standardised, population-based survey method used to determine the prevalence and causes of blindness and vision impairment among people aged 50 years and older in a country. These surveys provide key information about common causes of avoidable blindness and vision impairment, including barriers to access and quality of services, which can then be used in national eye health planning. Over 11 weeks, the RAAB team visited 132 communities, examining around 4,400 individuals. As well as recording data, this survey was an opportunity to provide eye care and spread awareness about eye health and conditions like diabetes that can lead to blindness if not effectively managed. Locally led by Samoa’s only eye doctor, Dr Lucilla Ah Ching-Sefo, the survey team include several other Pacific eye doctors who flew in to support the effort alongside the local team. Support was also provided by National Eye Coordinator, Carol Auvaa, the Research team at The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, Mr. Danstan Tate, Vanuatu RAAB Coordinator, and RAAB Trainers Dr Ana Cama and Dr Mostofa Sarwar. The team is now preparing Samoa’s RAAB report, which will provide essential data to guide future eye health services in the country. This significant achievement was made possible with the support of the Samoa Ministry of Health, The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Lions Club International Foundation , showcasing the importance of collaboration in improving public health outcomes. Learn more about the RAAB survey over on our website: https://buff.ly/4cceyod

Meet Dr. Alice Irafa, a dedicated eye doctor making a world of difference in Papua New Guinea. Thanks to the generosity of people like you, Dr. Alice was supported through the training needed to be part of the Outreach Team, performing life-changing eye procedures on hundreds of people in remote communities. These outreach trips are challenging work, as she explains: “Our surgery days are long. We often start at eight in the morning and finish after midnight. In that time, we treat 25, 30, and sometimes 35 patients.” Despite the challenges, she finds immense joy in her work, especially when patients see clearly for the first time after surgery. “You see the joy on their face… when they get their bandages off and they can see. They can look at their loved ones again. That makes me happy,” she says. In a country with one of the highest rates of preventable blindness in the Pacific, eye doctors like Dr. Alice are crucial. There are only 8 eye doctors for 22 provinces, and the need for more trained specialists is urgent. Your generosity can help train more eye doctors and nurses, providing them with the skills and resources to perform sight-saving surgeries. Donate now and help make eye care accessible to all communities in Papua New Guinea: https://buff.ly/3SrlZAQ #RestoreSight #TransformLives

The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ Humanity Awards 2024 are now OPEN for nominations! Is there a Year 5 or 6 student at your school who goes above and beyond to help others? Someone with compassion, integrity, and kindness? A student who inspires their peers to make the world a better place? Nominate them to become the next Fred Hollows Humanity Awards NZ Junior Ambassador! Thanks to Specsavers, the Junior Ambassador will be able to extend their humanity by allocating $5,000 to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ Pacific programme of their choice, to help us end avoidable blindness. The Junior Ambassador will also be gifted $500, thanks to Corporate Traveller, to implement an initiative in their school that seeks to make the world around them better for their fellow students or community. For more information and to nominate a student, visit: https://buff.ly/4dFmUpR