JOHN FAWCETT FOUNDATION
Annual Report 2021
International Coordinator’s Report more village eye screenings and were able to conduct two offshore operating programs in East Java, finishing the year on a relative high note. JFF’s Outreach Clinics in Lombok were able to continue their work with reduced numbers, while those in East Java were affected more severely by the pandemic.
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he JFFA AGM was held in Perth in April with a good attendance from our supporters despite the pandemic. Gede Bingin and I attended via Zoom, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces on screen. In 2021 eye clinics and cataract operations continued at our Headquarters in Bali, with limited numbers by appointment. The activities gained momentum from October as the COVID-19 situation eased. We celebrated World Sight Day in October modestly, with our first village eye screening program in Bali for nearly two years, followed by a second village eye screening two weeks later. By November and December, the team were doing
We had to be flexible and adapt our mode of delivery as conditions changed. Screening large numbers of people, which was our previous practice, was not safe or allowed so, once we were able to conduct offshore eye programs, we focused on pre-screening of patients by local medical personnel and sending our operating team to perform the cataract operations. While this is efficient in terms of operations, people with less serious vision problems missed out on being tested and receiving glasses, and many of those who could be helped with eye medication went untreated. Gender Equity Our team is working towards achieving a more equitable gender balance in the patients we assist, including proactive initiatives to encourage women to attend clinics and screenings.
PENNY LANE
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We recognised International Women’s Day with a dedicated female-only eye clinic and followup sight-restoring operations. The year ahead … Because of the pandemic, during which so many Indonesians, especially Balinese, have lost their livelihoods, it is very apparent that the level of poverty in Indonesia will rise, and more and more people will be needing assistance. We are hoping that, as the COVID-19 situation eases in Indonesia, our team will be able to return to conducting regular village programs in Bali and offshore eye programs, recognising that the mode of delivery may be different, and that flexibility will be necessary. While this is a challenging time for the whole organisation, it is also a valuable learning experience and opportunity to try new approaches. My sincere appreciation to the senior staff in Bali and the Australian Board members for their support and cooperation, and to the whole team in Bali who carry out their work with enthusiasm and dedication.
