Medical mission in Mongolia

 FIRST HOSPITAL: Dr. Francis Law and nurses Woh Tan and Christine Tuano along with the Mongolian team under the direction of department head Dr. Buren performed 110 cataract surgeries and over 200 patients were examined and treated in the eye clinic over the 5-day period. Teaching clinics and lectures were provided by Drs. Parsons and Geoffrey Law.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH:A very constructive meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr. Bulgan (the director of the Mongolian Ophthalmology Society as well as ophthalmology advisor to the MOH. Plans for continuation and expansion of present programs were reviewed. A new project, providing mobile eye care units for the screening and treatment of patients in remote regions using telemedicine were reviewed. A visit to Arkanghai province was also discussed. Plans for the September 2017 visit were reviewed.

NATIONAL CANCER CENTER: Dr. Chinburen is now the director of the NCC. We renewed our 5-year commitment (MOU) to the future development of head and neck surgery, thoracic surgery, as well as the development of perioperative care programs at the NCC. Dr. Chinburen has asked us to explore assistance in the development of the departments of pathology and radiation oncology. Dr. Parsons will plan to arrange specialist to visit these departments on the next trip in September.

ARKHANGHAI PROVINCE: Director of health Department, Dr. Gandiimaa indicated that they are in the process of developing an ophthalmology program where they can perform cataract and other eye surgeries at Arkhanghai General Hospital (almost no surgery is presently performed). These plans fit very well with our program and in September 2017 some of the Canadian team will undertake eye clinics as a step-in planning future activities in the province.