Nielson Fiji Adventures: More Exams, and a Diabetic Conference

This was been another busy week, this time working six days in a row. We saw a variety of patients at four different churches. Our biggest day was 102 patients, and then had to turn away several who were still waiting and wanting an eye exam.

Ann got close to these three kids, who seemed to really like her.

This one girl wanted to sit on Ann's lap, and wouldn't get off.

This boy, named Eli, became our friend, and hung around all day.
He even raced home to his village and brought back some cooked
corn on the cob for us, freshly picked from his family's garden.

We hired this 15 year old young man to be our assistant for a couple of days this past week. He is a native Fijian, and was able to help check patients in and translate for those patients who didn't speak much English. He was a good help, and was very thrilled to come along with us and have some work for the day.

This is our "Poster Boy"

This was one of the churches we worked at for two days this week.

This church sat on the top of a large hill/mountain in a remote part of Fiji. The view from up here was amazing. We could see much of the rain forest jungle, as well as the sea, and the big island called, Ovalau, which used to be the capital of Fiji many years ago.

Once again, we had large line ups all day, waiting for us.

They kept their spirits up, despite the hours of waiting.

These were four happy kids waiting patiently in the
exam room for their turn to get their eyes tested.

When these kids were asked to do a crazy pose
for the camera, they really put on a show!

After working one day, the church leader
walked us to his home in a nearby village.

This is President Tagidunu and his wife.

I saw another patient with gross looking large Pterygiums growing over his pupil. Although it's threatening his vision,
at this stage, he can still see out of this one eye.

This Pterygium was so advanced, that is was completely covering his pupil, making him completely blind out of this eye.
I referred him to the Pacific Eye Institute for surgery
to have it surgically removed.

On Friday, after a long day of seeing 102 patients, we then drove over two hours to the town of Sigatoka, and stayed over night in the Bulas at the Tubakula Resort in a nice beach setting.

This is the one we stayed at.

The next day, we went to the Warwick Hotel
for a National Diabetic Conference.

At the conference, I presented a Powerpoint lesson to few of these smaller groups of diabetics. I was able to teach them what Diabetes can do to their vision, and how to prevent damage.
To help make it interesting, I included a two minute "Mr. Bean" clip. They seemed to really enjoy the presentation.

Tools of the trade.

I was then given a hotel room to perform eye exams on the diabetics from the conference, as well as some of the hotel staff. It kept us very busy through to the late afternoon.