Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has extended its sympathies to the families and friends of the 10 International Assistance Mission (IAM) eye camp team members who were killed by gunmen in a remote part of Afghanistan last week.
IAM is a not-for-profit Christian charity that runs the National Organisation for Ophthalmic Rehabilitation (NOOR) programme in Afghanistan. Its team, headed by New York optometrist Tom Little and including UK surgeon Dr Karen Woo, were returning to Kabul having carried out an eye camp in Nuristan at the invitation of local communities.
Little was described as a veteran of such expeditions, having spent 34 years in Afghanistan, as well as an active member of the World Council of Optometry's Public Health and Development Committees.
Clive Miller, chief executive officer of OGS in Sydney, writing to IAM director Dirk Franks, said: 'Optometry Giving Sight, through our partnership with VOSH International, was proud to be providing financial support to assist with the mid level ophthalmic training course/primary eye care programme in Nangahar Province that was being conducted under the auspices of the NOOR/IAM Eye Program.
'We are all devastated to think that the incredible commitment and dedication of the optical and medical staff involved in the mission to Nuristan province could end in such tragedy. We are also devastated that someone as experienced and committed as Tom Little has been lost to the programme after providing such remarkable service to the poor and under-served people of Afghanistan for more than 30 years.'