More than 400,000 people out of a population of 22.4 million are cataract blind in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Since 2004 Tilganga Eye Centre in Nepal has been working in DPRK to clear the backlog of cataract blindness and to train and equip doctors.

In early 2004 two doctors were initially trained at Tilganga Eye Centre. Since then a further five doctors have been trained at the Centre and an additional ten doctors have been trained and equipped at clinics held in DPRK. 

The Outreach Microsurgical Eye Clinics (OMECs) were held in Pyangsong, Sariwan and Pyongyang cities. Around 1800 cataract operations were performed and hundreds of doctors and medical personnel involved.

A Cataract Micro-surgical Workshop is due to take place in Pyongyang city in July 2007.

The Fred Hollows Foundation in Australia and the Himalayan Cataract Project will support Tilganga Eye Centre to conduct more high volume outreach clinics and to train and equip doctors in DPRK.

We'll bring you more program information soon.

The Fred Hollows Foundation Australia
Address: 4 Mitchell Street, Enfield NSW 2136 Australia
Postal Address: Locked Bag 3100, Burwood NSW 1805 Australia
Phone: + 61 2 8741 1900 or 1800 352 352 (Donation Line)
Fax: + 61 2 8741 1999
Email: fhf@hollows.org