“XOVA is an award program sponsored by Novartis Pharma AG. XOVA is intended for medical specialists who have devised initiatives that are expected to have significant impact on unmet needs in the fields of ophthalmology and optometry.

The objective of XOVA is to provide funding, in the form of a grant, for non-profit initiatives and projects that are expected to have a positive impact on improving the quality of eye care.”

Hawaiian Eye Foundation is honored to be one of the 5 organizations chosen for this prestigious grant award. The aim of our program in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia is to develop a sustainable eye care system.

The isolation of Pacific Islanders restricts their access to health care. In Yap, nearly 50% of individuals are diabetic, increasing their risk for eye diseases. However, with education and monitoring, blindness can often be prevented or delayed. By gifting sight, a patient gains independence and the ability to care for their families and villages. In the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), there is only one eye care provider, in Pohnpei – the other states are without any eye care. Surveys show that many primary health care providers are unaware of ophthalmic conditions or how to deal with optic traumas and so many patients go blind unnecessarily.

This initiative will establish the first self-sustainable surgical eye center in FSM. Simultaneously, it will train local health workers to serve every village, extending the reach to the whole state. Eventually, this campaign will extend to the whole country and throughout Micronesia. This project will directly benefit at least 1,000 people over the next two years while an eye care system is developed that will eventually serve the entire country.

Read More about The Project