Medical Mission in Mongolia

Arkhangai Eye Care Program

The close relationship and collaborative efforts of the Mongolian-Canadian team continue to meet the medical and surgical eye care needs of the patients from Arkhangai and surrounding areas as well as provide Ophthalmology residents from The First Hospital   with ongoing education and training. 

This is our second visit to Arkhangai.  The Canadian team which included Dr. Franics Law, Dr. Ari Giligson, Dr. Hugh Parsons (Ophthalmologists), Toh Woon Tan, Debby Mah, Tina Cheng, Christine Tuano (Perioperative Nurses) and Emily Minosky (Ophthalmic Technician) and the Mongolian team Dr. Enkhzuk Zulaa, Dr. Enkhtuul Sedbazar, Dr. Munkhgerel, Dr. Tumurbataar Tumuruu (Ophthalmologists) and residents from The First Hospital worked hard to perform the completion of 100 Cataract Extractions with Intraocular Lens Implant surgeries and 10 Orbital Plastic surgeries.    

Residents benefited from valuable experiences of assessing over 300 eye patients alongside Dr. Hugh Parsons, Dr. Ari Gilligson and Dr. Enkhtuul Sedbazar, as well as independently performing retrobulbar (eye) blocks, and assisting in surgeries.

Gobi Eye Care Program

Dr. Hugh Parsons, Dr. Enkhtuul Sedbazar and Christine Tuano traveled to Umnugobi Province to meet with Hospital Director Boldbaatar Yanjmaa and his team to discuss a possible collaboration to establish an eye care program at the Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center to serve the needs of the Umnugobi Province population and surrounding areas.  This project will be determined by the Dr. Chuluunbaatar and Dr. Burenjargal from the First Hospital as their support and guidance will be vital to the establishment and success of this new project.  A Five-year Memorandum of Understanding is currently being developed to reflect the long-term commitments and objectives in Umnugobi Province.

Vitreo-Retinal Program at the First Hospital

Dr. Enkhtuul Sedbazar has successfully completed 144 Vitreo-Retinal surgical cases since the inauguration of the program in October 2019.  Dr. Enkhtuul Sedbazar performed 10 complicated Combined Cataract and Vitreo-Retinal surgeries with assistance from Dr. Hugh Parsons.  Having a public Vitreo-Retinal surgeon at the First Hospital will provide critical service to all of Mongolia.  In addition to the many complex cases managed by the Retina service at the First Hospital, the program will support and enhance the surgical training opportunities for the residency training program.

Obtaining regular funding from The Ministry of Health and The Ministry of Finance for the Vitreo-Retinal Program at the First Hospital is an important aspect in the future success of the program.  The Laurel Retina Foundation is currently funding the supplies required to operate the program.  The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance will need to assume these responsibilities. 

A new phase of the Vitreo-Retinal Program will be the establishment of a Medical Retina Program at the First Hospital.  The Laurel Retina Foundation has acquired funding for an Optical Coherence Tomography machine which will assist in diagnosing and treating Medical Retinal eye patients.  Dr. Enkhtuul Sedbazar and Dr. Enkhzuk Zulaa will have access to ongoing medical retinal training through Moorfields Online Medical Training Program.

Expansion of the Medical Retina Program is essential for the future of the Eye Care Program in Mongolia.  The program will require diagnostic equipment such as an Optos machine to perform Fluorescein Angiography and acquiring a new Laser Photocoagulation machine to treat medical retina diseases.

OPHTHALMOLOGY RESIDENCY PROGRAM

The development of the Ophthalmology Residency Program is ongoing under the guidance and support of Dr. Ari Giligson.  This aspect of the project is critical to the development of eye care in Mongolia and will enable high quality candidates for all provinces in Mongolia.

A meeting was held with representatives from the Ministry of Health including Tsogtbaatar Byambaa, Director for Department of Public Administration and Management to discuss the direction of the Ophthalmology Residency Program.  Dr. Chimgee, Dr. Burenjargal, Dr. Bulgan, Dr. Enkhtuul Sedbazar, Dr. Hugh Parsons, Dr. Ari Giligson and Christine Tuano were also present for this meeting.  The proposals of limiting the number of residents into the program and selecting high quality appropriate candidates were met with enthusiasm and support from the Ministry of Health who asked for timelines and goals for the development of the program. 

Dr. Chuluunbaatar Donkhim, First Hospital Director, was informed of the successful outcomes of the meeting with the Ministry of Health in a separate meeting with Dr. Burenjargal, Dr. Bulgan, Dr. Enkhtuul Sedbazar, Dr. Hugh Parsons, Dr. Ari Giligson and Christine Tuano.  He is supportive of the initiatives undertaken by the Department of Ophthalmology and Dr. Burenjargal.  He is also supportive of initiatives to be taken to support training of surgical ophthalmic nurses at the First Hospital.