Atesh Bhej’s 50TH Birthday – Give the gift of sight!

Born and bred in Fiji and spending the first 23 years of our life in Fiji, allows us a better understanding of the challenges of healthcare access and limited resources to obtain easy care that has a significant impact on the lives of our fellow Fijian friends. It has been our vision for many years to do more for humanity; now turning 50 in June 2021, with our young children doing independent living, well settled into University life, we have more time to dedicate to this course.

Our long term vision has been to help reduce blindness in Fiji to a negligible number and hence we established the Biz Charitable Foundation Trust many years ago. Our goal is to work with various charitable organizations already operational in Fiji to help reduce unnecessary blindness with better vision education, regular eye checkups, diabetic issues and corrective eye surgery such as cataract.

4 out of 5 people who are blind in Fiji do not need to be. The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is working to change this. Their Mobile Eye Clinic (MEC) was built to address this staggering demand for eye care services. It is a state-of-the-art, 11.5 metre facility, which travels to remote parts of the country to provide sight-saving services to people in need.

With a full range of medical equipment aboard, the MEC is a one-stop-shop for eye checks, cataract surgery, diabetes eye disease laser treatment, and services for a range of other eye conditions, giving patients in remote areas better access to free high-quality eye care.

I’d like to share a story of one of the people the MEC helped:

Over a period of six years, Mere's sight was slowly taken from her by dense cataracts— something that could have been avoided if she had simply had access to eye care sooner.

A keen gardener, Mere continued to sell her produce at the village market, but even walking had become a challenge. Living in a small hut on an uneven, pot-holed site, she was forced to shuffle her way around.

Mere’s neighbor told us how difficult daily life had become.

“Without her eyesight, Mere could not cook or lift things, it was too dangerous. Mere could not even wash her own hair.”

Mere was absolutely devastated to lose her independence and the ability to look after her family. Thankfully, she heard about the MEC outreach.

When the time came to take off her bandages, Mere took a moment to adjust and stared intently at the eye chart. She took a deep breath, reached an arm around the nurse’s waist, and wept with joy. There was not a dry eye in the clinic.

"I was so scared my eyes would be closed forever, but now I can see properly. I can run! I can plant my seeds and sell my vegetables. When my son comes, I will see him at the end of the street!"

Fred Hollows Website - https://www.hollows.org.nz/

We need your help and support on this journey, helping one person at a time to improve their vision. and reaching every person in the most remotest part of the beautiful country.

In my 50th year I have pledged $50,000 towards these costs and invite you to join me in helping the Clinic bring the Gift of Sight across Fiji.