Villagers at a traditional longhouse in Borneo

The jungles of Borneo are the destination for next year’s specialist study trip by Jon Baines Tours, which provides eye-related education amid exotic travel experiences.

Home to at least 26 indigenous groups, Borneo’s diverse, remote culture makes it a fascinating destination and a medical challenge to explore, said the company. Vision loss hits remote communities especially hard, affecting social interaction, independence and the ability to make a living. But, in many cases, the treatment needed to remedy blindness or partial sight is simple and highly effective. Such treatment is provided by the KKM cataract clinic in Sarawak, which tour participants will visit. Launched in 2013, the centre immediately offered hope to people with cataracts who could not afford treatment by private eye specialists.

KKM has strong backing from the Malaysian Ministry of Health. Deputy chief minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has even been given the title ‘the Knight of the Sight’ for his staunch support. The delivery model is designed to be affordable and self-sustaining, with sponsors covering the cost of all intraocular lenses used.

Recently an outreach programme has extended KKM’s work into more remote areas, with the new mobile team treating patients at more than 20 traditional longhouses this year. The initiative won the Best Community Programme category at the 10^th Annual Global Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Lombok in 2018.

Eye care in Borneo has come a long way in recent years with clinics such as KKM gaining increased support and providing positive results, said Jon Baines Tours. “Looking at a country through the prism of its healthcare systems teaches much more than medical issues – it provides a unique insight into a country’s culture, history and traditions, as well as shedding light on a society’s philosophies and priorities.”

The Optometry Study Tour to Borneo and the Malay Peninsula runs from 6-19 April 2020 and is relevant to optometrists and ophthalmologists, with partners welcome. For more see www.jonbainestours.com/optometry.