medical mission in Mongolia

Govi Altai Eye Care Program

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

Clinical evaluation and treatment of 800 patients at the Eye Clinic in Govi Altai and remotely in surrounding SUMS were completed. 

The Canadian team which included Dr. Justin French, Dr. Mathen Mathen (Ophthalmologists), Aneesh Ratnam[Medical Student], Dr. Jeff Rains (Anesthesiologist), Rochelle Bauerfind, Toh Woon Tan, Debby Mah (Perioperative Nurses) and Emily Minosky (Ophthalmic Technician) and the Mongolian team Dr. Enkhzuk Zulaa, 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 11 Orbital Plastic surgeries. 

Working closely with Dr. French and Dr. Mathen, residents significantly benefited from valuable experiences of treating and teaching clinical patients, performing retrobulbar (eye) blocks, and assisting in surgeries.

The project was made possible with the generous donations of surgical supplies, intraocular lens implants and ophthalmic drops from Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Alcon and Bausch and Lomb. 

Vitreo-Retinal Program at the First Hospital

The highly anticipated opening of the first public Vitreo-Retinal Program was celebrated at the First Hospital.  In attendance for the opening day ceremony were the Minister of Health, Dr. Chimgee, Dr. Burenjargal, Dr. Bulgan, Dr. Enkhtuul, Dr. Hugh Parsons, Canadian Ambassador Sproule and representatives from the Deseret Foundation – all of whom made this program possible with their time, dedication and generosity.

The Vitreo-Retinal Program came into fruition with the generous support from our Sponsors.  The Zeiss microscope was donated by The Deseret Foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Retina Surgical Associates purchased two Bausch & Lomb Stellaris PC (Vitrectomy) machines.  Donna Harco, from Surrey, B.C, Canada donated an Ophthalmic Cryosurgical machine.  Surgical instruments donated by The Laurel Foundation.  Surgical supplies donated by Bausch and Lomb.   It was with great effort initiated by Ambassador Sproule to bring all of these equipment and supplies into Mongolia and cleared by Customs.    

Dr. Enkhtuul has successfully completed her 18 month Vitreo-Retinal Fellowship in Canada and will be leading the Vitreo-Retinal Program at the First Hospital.  15 Vitreo-Retinal surgeries, five of which were combined cases that included cataract surgery with intraocular lens implant, were completed in the first week of the program’s launch.  This was the residents’ first exposure to Vitreo-Retinal surgery.

Along with Dr. Enkhtuul, Canadian Team members Dr. Parsons, Christine Tuano (Perioperative Nurse) and Robin Felker (Bausch and Lomb) assisted in the organization and management of initiating the operative program. Christine Tuano taught Mongolian nurses, Ganaa and Boloroo, and residents the preparation and setup of the operating room and the Stellaris PC machine, ophthalmic instrumentation and surgical flow from a nursing perspective. Robin Felker orientated healthcare staff on the StellarisPC machine, assisted in assembling of the microscope and also faced and conquered many obstacles to allow for surgery to be possible.