A Harpenden optician said he was “proud and privileged” to have led an “epic” trip to his homeland in Nepal – providing vital eye care to more than 1,000 patients in one of the country’s most remote regions.
Sen Gurung, Director of Skye Optometrists in Bowers Parade, has returned from a month-long tour of the mountainous Dolpa region which saw him head a team of 12 eye care professionals through his own SeeNepal Foundation, along with fellow founders Gaumaya Gurung, Bhabana Limbu Howard, Dale Howard, and Deevas Gurung.
The team based themselves in the small town of Dunai, one of Nepal’s least inhabited regions sitting at an altitude of 2,000 metres, and treated a total of 1,071 patients in just four days – many of whom had trekked for several days on foot to get there. Almost 350 pairs of glasses were handed out to those in need.
Mr Gurung said: “Access to healthcare and eyewear is scarce in this area. Most people are not aware of their health and they simply think failing eyesight is what happens with age or it’s something god given.
“I was born in Nepal but have lived here for 17 years. I always wanted to go back and help. I was inspired by research I carried out while at University and I did my first camp in 2018 in Gorkha, which was the region at the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. After a successful camp, I teamed up with my co-founders with a view to going back in 2020 but COVID stopped us in our tracks.
“This year we vowed to make it happen and, after two domestic flights we reached Dunai. The first day saw us give an informative talk around eye health awareness in a local school and we tested every single student. Then we headed to a hospital for three days where people travelled for miles on foot to see us.
“We even saw a local priest who was struggling to read his sermons. He walked for six days to see us. It was incredible, an absolutely epic trip.”
Skyes is an independent optical practice that has been an established part of the Harpenden High Street since the early 1970s. It provides an individual approach to every customer and quality eye care by fully qualified GOC registered optometrists and dispensing opticians.
For more information, visit www.seenepal.org or www.skyes.co.uk.
