Indonesia

INDONESIA

BETHESDA

EYE UNIT

Bethesda Mission Hospital has ministered to the people of rural West Kalimantan, Indonesia for over 50 years.  Global Eye Mission (GEM) has partnered with Bethesda Hospital to facilitate the ongoing development of a long term clinical and surgical eye unit to serve the poor of this region. In 2008, with the support of Bethesda Hospital, Dr. Steve Anderson and Dr. Edy Lubis (a newly graduated Indonesian ophthalmologist), began the work of establishing the eye program. 


By 2013 the eye program had become a leading service at the hospital and had developed a reputation for excellence and compassionate eye care. The eye program now has a second Indonesian ophthalmologist and continues to serve the people of West Kalimantan and beyond.  A medical and surgical outreach program has been developed that allows the eye team to service more remote locations in their region as well as travel to areas more distant in the country that are in need of eye care.

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GEM GOALS

OUR MISSION

  • Project Goals

    The goal of this project is to develop a long-term, self-sustaining, mission eye unit at Bethesda Hospital in West Kalimantan to serve the poor of the region. As the program matures, an additional goal is to use the experience and expertise of this program as a model and training site for Indonesian ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists from other nations who are interested in developing similar programs to serve the poor.

  • Role of Global Eye Mission (GEM)

    Since the initiation of the eye unit in 2008, GEM has worked together with Dr. Edy, Dr. Vika and the hospital in developing the eye services at Bethesda. GEM is involved with the strategic development of the eye unit, training, providing the hospital with needed equipment, and helping to facilitate an outreach program in the more remote village regions.

  • Future

    While Bethesda’s Eye unit has been blessed in many ways, much work remains to be done in developing the eye unit’s capabilities, training of staff, building of infrastructure and expanding its reach to the many people in the region who still have little or no access to eye care. Goals for the future are to expand the clinical and surgical outreach efforts, expand and improve the clinical facilities at the hospital, expand the number of trained staff to assist in the growing eye department and continue to build relationships locally and internationally that aid in the delivery of high-quality eye care to the poor. As the program matures, a long-term goal is to use the experience and expertise of this program as a model and training site for Indonesian ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists from other nations who are interested in developing similar programs to serve the poor.

OUR WORK

PROGRESS UPDATE

Since its inception, Bethesda Eye Unit has grown in its ability to serve the eye care needs in this region with ophthalmic medical and surgical care. In 2020, a second Indonesian ophthalmologist joined Bethesda’s eye team, Dr. Novika Pristiwati (Dr. Vika).  Dr. Vika was sponsored for training in ophthalmology through Bethesda Hospital and GEM.  Dr. Vika is working to build on the success of Bethesda’s eye program for the next generation.  After fifteen years of faithful service, Dr. Edy accepted a position outside the hospital in a local community and continues to volunteer his services at Bethesda one day a week for clinical and surgical care of patients and teaching.  In 2019, Dr. Edy was accepted to a retina fellowship in Indonesia which was cut short by the COVID pandemic. 


It is hoped that Dr. Edy will be able to complete his training as a retina subspecialist and be able to bring this specialty to the eye service at Bethesda.  Currently, there are no retina specialists in vast province of West Kalimantan with a population of 5 million people. Another development to report is the completion of a new surgical center with a dedicated eye surgery room.  Updates to some of the aging clinical and surgical equipment are needed and we are grateful for the many years of service the existing equipment has provided.

BETHESDA MISSION

HOSPITAL HISTORY

Bethesda Mission Hospital was founded in 1965 by a missionary doctor and his wife who was trained as a nurse, Dr. Wendell and Marjorie Geary.  The hospital has served the people of rural West Kalimantan, Indonesia since that time. The hospital has grown over the years to become a resource for the region serving the poor and is sought out for its reputation of quality care and compassion. The hospital is located on the island of Borneo, which is the third largest island in the world.


Kalimantan is the region of Borneo within Indonesia and has an estimated population of 24 million people. The hospital is located in West Kalimantan, which is a province of 5 million people. Many of the people suffer from various vision impairments that can be addressed with glasses, medical treatment, or surgery. There is a great need for eye care in this underserved region.

BETHESDA EYE UNIT

HISTORY

In 1967, shortly after the founding of the hospital, Dr. Bert Ferrell joined the mission team serving at Bethesda. As a general practitioner, Dr. Ferrell treated a variety of conditions.  He soon recognized the great need for eye care in the region and in 1982 sought out specialty eye training in London to help address this need. He returned to Bethesda to begin the first phase of eye care to be offered at the hospital until his retirement about a decade later.  In 2008, Dr. Steve Anderson, working through Global Eye Mission, accepted an invitation from Bethesda Hospital to help develop a new clinical and surgical eye unit at the hospital in Kalimantan. That same year, Dr. Edy Lubis, an Indonesian ophthalmologist, returned to Bethesda Hospital after completing his residency in Indonesia. Dr. Edy was supported by Bethesda Hospital through his four years of residency as part of a plan to establish a long-term eye service at the hospital.


Together Dr. Edy and Dr. Anderson, with the help of a team of nurses and the established mission hospital, began to shape what would become Bethesda’s Eye Unit.  As people heard about this new eye service, they began to bring those in need of eye care to the hospital. Many patients who had been blind for years, came and received sight restoring surgery. The longtime dream of a full-time eye service, held by many at this remote mission hospital, had become a reality! 

BETHESDA EYE UNIT

OUTREACH

An outreach program was developed to bring eye care screening services to remote villages. Patients requiring more advanced care or surgery that are identified through these screening efforts are referred to the hospital. A surgical outreach capability has also been developed allowing the Bethesda eye team to bring surgical eye care to even more remote sites at greater distance from the hospital. Kalimantan is a vast region consisting of many remote jungle villages often with poor (or no) access by road.


This makes for an interesting "commute" for the eye team, which utilizes a variety of means of transportation to reach those in need including boats, vehicles and planes. We are also thankful for the short-term volunteers who have visited Bethesda’s eye unit and assisted in its development.


GET INVOLVED

PARTNER WITH US

There is great potential for the eye program at Bethesda Hospital to make a significant impact on the lives of the poor in West Kalimantan and far beyond. This can be accomplished through Bethesda’s delivery of compassionate Christ-centered eye care and through its role as a model for other such programs. We invite you to partner with us in this effort!


The work of Global Eye Mission is possible only through partnerships. Our partners include our Indonesian colleagues, field workers, short-term volunteers and our prayer and financial supporters. Please consider partnering with us through prayer, financial support or volunteer service.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
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