People here need your help
And cataract is 12 times more common among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island adults than other Australians.
An example of these shocking statistics was Winston, a traditional owner, land manager, artist and Aboriginal Health Worker from Blackstone (Papulankutja) community in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands of Western Australia.
It was nearly three years ago that Winston was first diagnosed at Kings Canyon during an outreach screening service for Aboriginal rangers. His dense cataract caused him to go blind in his left eye, which he kept shut to keep out the painful glare.
In a country like Australia, why did Winston have to suffer like this? Keep scrolling to find out.
Here are some of the facts:
Find out more Indigenous health facts here.
Despite these facts, 94% of vision loss for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults is preventable or treatable.
The fact is that there just aren’t enough appropriately trained staff to carry out the number of surgeries needed.
In fact, there is only one ophthalmologist in the Central Australia region - Dr Tim Henderson. He services an area larger than Spain – and the nearest ophthalmology services are in either Darwin or Adelaide.
For a variety of reasons, including remoteness, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are four times more likely to wait for more than one year for surgery than other Australians.
Dr Tim Henderson is the only ophthalmologist in the Central Australia and Barkly region and has restored sight to thousands of people.
He services a population of more than 50,000 people who are dispersed over an area larger than Spain.
Dr Tim’s knows exactly how to connect with his patients, using words in their language to connect with them and make them feel comfortable.
I cannot speak their languages fluently, I can speak a few words in some of the appropriate languages but even that helps. It’s about meeting somebody who’s an equal and saying, ‘I’m here because I’ve got the skills to do your operation, but I want you to be happy and comfortable while we’re doing it so you understand what’s happening. - Dr Tim Henderson
There are other factors that determine Indigenous health outcomes– and many of these reasons are either social or cultural.
The day before his surgery, Winston underwent pre-op tests and met with Dr Tim to be measured for an intraocular lens. Dr Tim’s 17 years of experience was evident as he instantly connected with Winston, gaining his trust and explaining what would happen in surgery the following day by speaking in his language.
I liked the way Dr Tim was talking to me and treating me, saying we’ll get you fixed up. I was happy, quite happy. - Winston
The value of someone who can build this trust can’t be underestimated because for many Aboriginal people, hospitals have been alienating places.
Many Aboriginal people have beliefs about illness that place empahasis on social and spiritual causes, and going to a western medical clinic can cause distress and shame. There’s a fear of negative outcomes and attitutes, as well as the association between hospitals and spirits of the dead.
People also fear being singled out or being forced to act in a manner in conflict with social or spiritual obligations. Examples of this include not understanding the ‘rules’ within a particular situation, and being forced in to circumstances where male and female roles have not been adhered to.
Additionally, the custom of avoiding eye contact as a mark of respect can make for a very uncomfortable experience at an eye clinic.
One of The Fred Hollows Foundation’s main driving principles is to end avoidable blindness and improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Our program in Australia is working to make this happen.
94% of vision loss for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults is preventable or treatable and this shows exactly how achievable it is to end avoidable blindness in our own backyard.
Our Program supports increased investment in, and access to, culturally appropriate eye care services to remote and underserved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
See what The Foundation is doing to improve Indigenous health outcomes in Australia.
Because of our efforts, Winston and people like him can experience amazing outcomes. In fact, Winston went from being legally blind in his left eye to having nearly 20/20 vision.
If you can help somebody see again… everybody would throw money because we can actually make a difference – we can keep people independent, we can keep the elders being functional members of the community, and the value add that you get for the community is almost incalculable. - Dr Tim Henderson.
Australia, we need your help: our aim is to improve the eye health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to close the health inequality gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australians and other Australians by 2030.
We're working hard to Close the Gap in eye health
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