During his one week stay in Mauritius, Dr Cyrus Tabatabay perfomed 30 complex vitreo-retinal surgeries and examined 135 patients. “Working and sharing expertise together with the Moka Hospital medical team is a very interesting and rewarding experience”, says Dr Tabatabay.

Dr C. Tabatabay performs retinal surgery assisted by Moka Hospital team.

2010 started with two missions at the Moka Eye Hospital.

The first mission was carried by Dr Cyrus Tabatabay, Dr Efstratios Mendrinos (HUG Geneva) and Aboo Moossajee. Dr Szilard Kiss, from Weill Cornell Medical School New York, joined them. A lot was done during these two weeks. Heavy retinal surgeries (vitrectomies) and corneal transplants were performed. Corneal grafts were donated by the Port Louis LIONS Club who helps the Moka Eye Hospital throughout the year.

For the last twelve months, T.E.S. Foundation has been working with the Port Louis LIONS Club on an important fund raising project. They hope to acquire an OCT - Optical Coherence Tomography, for the Moka Eye Hospital. This revolutionary new technology offers high-definition images of the different layers of the retina and the macula. This 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 would be of great help in the diagnosis, observation and treatment of retinal diseases due to diabetes.

From left to right: A. Moossajee, Dr H. Dawreeawoo, Dr F. Uteene , Dr C. Tabatabay, R. Dharma, Dr E. Mendrinos and Dr S. Kiss after a day in operating room.

Dr Moïra Bumbacher and Prof. André Roth carried the second mission in Mauritius during the two last weeks of January. Specialised in pediatric eye care, they examined numerous children and adults presenting severe strabismus problems and performed surgery for 24 of these patients.

During these two missions, T.E.S. Foundation donated instruments and material used for cataract, vitrectomy and strabismus surgery. This material, which is of great help to the Moka Eye Hospital, was acquired thanks to private and association donations. T.E.S. would like to express its gratitude to all those who, through their support, help the foundation accomplish its mission.

Operating theater nurses

Dr P. Padiachy from the Moka Eye Hospital and Dr E. Mendrinos from HUG Geneva

Patients entering the Moka Eye Hospital

Moka Hospital surgeons and team during vitrectomy surgery.

In September, Dr Nicolas Leveziel, from Paris, stayed for three weeks in Mauritius, working with the medical team of the Moka Hospital. They consulted many patients and performed complex retinal surgery.

Dr Cyrus Tabatabay flew from Geneva to Mauritius on October 16, to work at the Moka Hospital and to meet people from Mauritius interested in helping T.E.S. Foundation acquire important medical instruments for the Moka Hospital.

Dr Tabatabay brought material from Switzerland used during surgery, such as intra-ocular lenses, and, especially, a indirect retinoscope used for daily clinical retina evaluation.

Prof D. D'Amico from New York Weill Cornell Medical Center with Dr C. Tabatabay

Dr Cyrus Tabatabay and Dr Harry Roux went to Mauritius for a one week mission. They consulted 120 patients and performed major surgeries, intravitreal injections and yag laser photocoagulations. 

T.E.S. and Moka Hospital team after a day in the operating theater.

Prof Donald d’Amico, Professor and Chairman, Dr Kiss Szilard, Assistant Professor, and Dr Chris Starr, Assistant Professor, from the Weill Cornell Medical Center of New York, Department of Ophthalmology, came for their first visit at Moka. They visited the hospital’s surgical facilities and assisted in the surgical theater.

Dr C. Starr, Prof D. D'Amico, Dr C. Tabatabay and Dr K. Szilard

Dr M. Bumbacher, from Geneva, and Dr S. Gunnoo Kowlessur, from Moka, during surgery on a child.

Prof. André Roth and Dr Moïra Bumbacher just came back from 2 weeks in Mauritius, working at the Moka Eye Hospital. Specialised in pediatric eye care, they examined, assessed and, when necessary, operated children suffering from strabismus. The local surgeons assisted them and also performed these complicated and delicate surgeries.

On saturday, Dr C. Tabatabay examined over 40 patients in need of surgery. He was assisted by both Dr Bisnautshing and Dr Poonoosamy. The file of each patient was presented, the patient was examined by Dr Tabatabay and surgery was the then discussed and planned with the local doctors.

Dr C. Tabatabay and A. Moossajee are back to the Moka Eye Hospital and have met with the local team again. They have brought from Switzerland products and material needed during surgery. Dr Tabatabay examines patients in need of surgery and mainly performs vitrectomies to treat macula holes and corneal grafts surgeries.

While operating, Dr Tabatabay explains every step of the surgery he is performing. Local surgeons can watch the surgery through the dual microscope used by Dr Tabatabay or on a screen as a camera is fixed on the bottom of the microscope.

On Thursday evening, T.E.S. team was kindly invited by the Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Dr Rajesh Jeetah, for a dinner given in the honour of Mr B. Gruson, general director of the H.U.G. (Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève).

Mr B. Gruson, General Director H.U.G. and Dr R. Jeetah, Minister of Health - January 8, 2009

During this same mission, Prof. Robert Gurny, Head of the Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics at the University of Geneva, meets with Prof. Henri Li Kam Wah, dean of the Faculty of Science of the University of Mauritius. They are working together on the implementation of a collaboration protocole that has been signed between the two faculties in 2008.

Prof. Henri Li Kam Wah and Prof. Robert Gurny

On Saturday, January 3, Professor Jean-Louis Carpentier, dean of the Faculty of Medecine of the University of Geneva visits the Moka Eye Hospital with Dr C. Tabatabay. They are bringing surgical material in donation for vitreoretinal surgery. During his stay in Mauritius, Pr Carpentier will meet with representatives of both the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life and the University of Mauritius to work on a collaboration project between the Faculty of Medecine of Geneva and the Medical School of Mauritius.

Dr C. Tabatabay and Prof. J-L. Carpentier M.D. arriving at The Moka Eye Hospital

From August to September 2008, T.E.S. carried out a mission involving 6 doctors and 1 orthoptist from Geneva and Paris. 4 doctors experienced thier first mission in Mauritius: Dr Eduardo Baglivo, Dr Laura Cottet and Dr Yves Wimsberger from Geneva, and Dr Nicolas Leveziel from Paris. This was Dr Harry Roux’s sixth mission. Dr Moïra Bumbacher and Mrs Francine Huguenin were there on their third mission.

 During that period, over 600 patients were examined. Close to 50 operations were performed. 170 laser photogoagulations treatments and 40 intra-retinal injections were undertaken to treat vision deterioration due to diabetes.