Professor André Roth, Dr Moïra Bumbacher, Dr Harry Roux and Francine Huguenin, orthoptist, carried the second mission in Mauritius. This mission was focused on examining and operating patients suffering from strabismus problems. Surgeries are performed together with Dr Sunita Gunnoo Kowlessur from the Moka Eye Hospital.

T.E.S. team with Dr Sunita Gunnoo Kowlessur from Moka Eye Hospital.

 

Dr P. Quinodoz and A. Govind, scrub nurse, before surgery.

As Professor Cyrus Tabatabay told the audience, the funds raised during this special event will help T.E.S. Foundation pursue its mission to bring medical and surgical expertise and to acquire sophisticated medical equipment and instruments for the Moka Eye Hospital in Mauritius. The ultimate goal is to establish Moka as the leading point of ophthalmological care in East Africa.

Fabrizio von Arx, Lyda Chen Arguerich and Julien Quentin

The recital will be performed by Lyda CHEN ARGERICH, viola, Fabrizio VON ARX, violin, and Julien QUENTIN, piano.

The recital will begin at 8.00pm and will be followed by a cocktail in the Salons.

Tickets can be booked on info@tesfoundation.org at a price of CHF 120.- per person.

Lyda Chen Argerich studied violin at the Conservatoires of Geneva and Beijing with Ayla Erduran and Lin Yao Ji. She discovered viola only later. Her musical path leads her around the world, performing with artists such as Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, Ivry Gitlis and Emile Naoumoff. Only lately has Lyda started her soloist career.

Born in Naples, Italy, Fabrizio von Arx studied violin in his native city with M° Leone. His career started at the age of 16 playing with the RAI Ochestra that promoted him on the national and international scene. Since then, he plays soloist with famous orchestras (Prague, Padova, Berliner Symphoniker,…) and, in 2005, he toured China with the pianist Roberto Prosseda.

Born in 1974, Julien Quentin, a French pianist, started his studies at the Conservatoire of Geneva with Alexis Golovine. Working and teaching in Bloomington (USA), he was awarded the Presser Award and, in 2003, he received the diploma at the Julliard School of New York. Julien Quentin now performs as soloist or with chamber music groups throughout the world and participates in major festivals such as Verbier, Lucerne and Gstaad. His multiple skills have lately lead him to the musical world of improvisation and electronic music.

During this mission, Mrs Nadia Pichot, optometrist, came over from Geneva to teach doctors and nurses how to use and analyse pictures taken with the newly acquired OCT machine (see post below  ”OCT donation ceremony at the Moka Eye Hospital”). Over 100 patients were examined during that week.

The ceremony took place in presence of the Honourable Mrs Santi Bai Hanoomanjee, Minister of Health and Quality of Life in Mauritius, Mr Bruno Lebreux, President of the Lions Club of Port Louis, Professor Cyrus Tabatabay, President of T.E.S. Foundation, Dr Hassanjee Dawreeawoo, Consultant in Charge at the Moka Eye Hospital and Mr Bernard Gruson, General Director of the HUG (Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève).

In her speech, Mrs S. Hanoomanjee insisted on the the severe problem caused by diabetes in Mauritius. Indeed, 19,3% of the population aged over 30 is diabetic, representing one out of five adults. Diabetes causes damages on the retina that, if not treated, can lead to blindness.

The new technology of the OCT made by Carl Zeiss, providing high-definition images of the different layers of the retina and the macula, will significantly improve the observation and thus, the assessment of the treatment needed and its follow-up. The patients from the Moka Eye Hospital will now benefit from the great help of this new machine.

Dr H. Dawreeawoo, Mrs S. Hanoomanjee, Mr B. Lebreux and Pr C. Tabatabay

Dr Pierre Quinodoz, reconstructive and plastic surgeon, arrived from Geneva to perform surgery on patients suffering from peri-orbital traumas such as burn sequels, congenital malformations, defects due to cancer and other pathologies causing facial damages. Dr Quinodoz is a board member of the Société Suisse de Chirurgie Plastique and is mandated by the Swiss government to help develop medical programs in the Great Lakes region of East-Africa. Twice a year, Dr Pierre Quinodoz organises and teaches medical and surgical courses to surgeons in countries such as Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

During his first days at the Moka Eye Hospital, Dr Quinodoz examined numerous patients together with post-graduate medical students from Mauritius, and performed surgery together with local surgeons.

Child examination by Dr Pierre Quinodoz Dr Pierre Quinodoz performs peri-orbital surgery.

For this special event, a violin and piano recital was given by Fabrizio von Arx and Julien Quentin. It was a real pleasure to hear their excellent performance of pieces from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, César Franck and Camille St-Saëns.

The money raised during this evening will help T.E.S. Foundation accomplish one of its major projects. Indeed, T.E.S. has been working during these last two years, together with other non-governmental organisations from Mauritius, on the acquisition of an OCT, Optical Coherence Tomography. This new technology provides high-definition images of the different layers of the retina and the macula. It allows a better observation and thus, a better assessment of the treatment needed and its follow-up.

Diabetes is widely spread in Mauritius and causes damages on the retina that, if not treated, can lead to blindness. The OCT will be of great help in the diagnosis, observation and treatment of retinal diseases due to diabetes.

We would like thank all those who attended this special evening and showed their support to our fondation. We would also like to express our gratitude to those who, through their donations, contribute to the accomplishment of our mission.

Your support makes the difference.

Fabrizio Von Arx
Born in Naples, the violinist Fabrizio von Arx started studying violin at the age of seven under the tuition of M° Leone. His talent was revealed when he won, at the age of ten, the Vittorio Veneto competition. He obtained his virtuosity diploma (classified first) in Geneva under the guidance of Corrado Romano, and won the “Performer” award in the U.S.A. He also worked under the guidance of M° Ruggiero Ricci in Berlin, and of M° Salvatore Accardo in Cremona.

Since his debut at the age of 16 with the Naples’ RAI orchestra, Fabrizio Von Arx has had an intense activity at national and international level. He performed as a soloist for prestigious orchestras from Europe, Japan, China and the USA, In 2005, he was the “Prima” of a triumphant tour in China, next to the M°Roberto Prosseda.

Julien Quentin
French pianist now living in Berlin, Julien Quentin has established himself as a versatile and sensitive musician, exhibiting great maturity and poise. His remarkable depth of musicianship and distinct clarity of sound coupled with flawless technique, make him an artist in demand as both soloist and chamber musician.

He has studied at the Conservatoire de Genève, the University of Indiana and at the Julliard School in New York. Regularly invited to numerous international Festivals such as the Verbier Festival, Julein Quentin appears in places all over the world working with major artits.