Eye Care for the Islands: Vision 20/20 for Calamian

Eye Care for the Islands: Vision 20/20 for Calamian

Until March 2015, there was no eye program in this part of the Philippines. People here got needlessly blind without seeing an eye doctor. The next eye centers are in Manila and Puerto Princesa, both 12 hours away by ferry.Calamian group of islandsCatchment area of Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital

https://dapinoymag.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/the-tagbanua-in-culion-palawan/

This opened my eyes to a couple of pricking truths: that people here in Calamian would seek ophthalmic care if they knew there was one in the first place; meanwhile, they could go needlessly blind without even seeing an eye doctor!

I was encouraged by my friends and colleagues, and supported by the chief of sanitarium to take up ophthalmology residency training and become the first ever ophthalmologist practicing in this part of the country.