Emerging from Darkness tells the story of the East Timor Eye Program (ETEP), a voluntary service run by Australians, and aimed at providing eye care for the people of East Timor.
Each year, visiting eye teams from Australia travel to East Timor to distribute spectacles, perform consultations and operations over several 1–2 week visits. The team mainly carries out cataract surgery – the incidence of cataracts in East Timor is very high – but also performs other surgery and provides eye care services as needed. Every year about 700 cataract operations are performed and about 7000 pairs of glasses are provided.
All the surgeons, optometrists and nurses provide their services free of charge to the people of East Timor.
Emerging from Darkness illustrates the scale of need in East Timor following the destruction of property and services in the wake of Indonesia’s withdrawal from the country. But it also tells the story of a brighter future for this tiny new country – for example through the story of 17-year-old Noberto, who hopes to be able to resume his education when his vision is restored through surgery. Noberto hopes to become a doctor, inspired in part by the surgeon who treated him – Dr Marcelino Correia, East Timor’s first qualified eye surgeon.
Emerging from Darkness features interviews with East Timorese President Dr Jose Ramos Horta, ETEP founder Dr Nitin Verma, Dr Marcelino Correia, medical professionals who donate their services to ETEP and some of the East Timorese people whose lives have been changed by the work of the program.
Matthew Newton
Photography / Cinematography
GPO Box 1585, Hobart, 7001
Tasmania, Australia
http:/www.matthewnewton.com.au
[email protected]
Matthew Newton
