The Excellence in Ophthalmology Vision Award (XOVA) is an award programme sponsored by Novartis. The programme provides funding, in the form of a grant, to medical specialists who have devised initiatives that are expected to have a significant impact on unmet needs in the field of ophthalmology. Every year, countries throughout Europe are invited to submit proposals for funding. In December 2011 Right to Sight’s proposal to build a "State of the Art Cataract Surgery Training Centre in Rift Valley, Kenya" was selected to win the XOVA award.

"Novartis is delighted to sponsor the XOVA programme for countries throughout Europe and it is very rewarding to see an Irish proposal succeed in obtaining funding, amongst countless other entries, particularly when it is as deserving as Right to Sight" said Loretto Callaghan, Managing Director of Novartis Ireland.

The successful proposal aims to fund the creation of economic sustainability in an established, quality, cataract surgery centre serving a rural destitute population, with limited possibilities for cross subsidied services from paying patients. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in Kenya (43%) where the annual incidence rate is more than 14,500 new cases. Kenya has only 62 ophthalmologists for 39 million people. Right to Sight is focused on solving the avoidable blindness crisis in Africa by providing quality training and support to African ophtalmologists. This award from Novartis will make a very significant difference in advancing the efforts of Right to Sight in Kenya.

Dr. Inoti Muriti is the latest surgeon to complete Right to Sight Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) course. He says of his time at Lions Hospital, “I have not seen a centre like this where such quality surgery is performed”.

He talks of his time with Right to Sight ophthalmologist Dr. Vasudev and tells of how much he has learned from and interacted with him during surgery training. “I have learnt a lot listening to the senior ophthalmologist, getting tips on how to save time and how to ensure top quality surgeries.” For him, cataract operations are most fulfilling as he sees his patients smiling immediately after surgery as they begin to see again.

He has returned to his hospital in Eastern Province, Kenya, to exponentially increase his sight restoring surgeries.

Before the SICS course, Dr. Inoti had completed 15 cataract surgeries in 2009 and 20 cataract surgeries in 2010. He now expects to perform 1,000 cataract surgeries per year at the Maua Methodist Hospital, Kenya. A Right to Sight team have travelled back with Dr. Inoti to provide management consultancy, equipment and online connectivity to help him capacity build his own hospital.

With just €20, one cataract operation is done in 10 minutes restoring the gift of sight.

With €1000, a surgeon is trained to do thousands of operations every year.

With more, Right to Sight will build permanent African training systems, buy surgery equipment, provide permanent patient transport and cure needless blindness.

Lions SightFirst Eye hospital, through Right to Sight management, opened the Gallagher Training Centre for small incision cataract surgery in August 2010. More recently, it received an SLT laser to partake in the Right to Sight African multicenter Glaucoma Trial.

During the visit the team met ophthalmologists from Nigeria and Tanzania who were attending a six week course at the training institute. The team also visited Dr. Dorothy Mutie (in photograph), head ophthalmologist in New Nyanza Hospital in Kisumu, to develop a surgeon training programme under her leadership.