The Nunatsiavut Government NIHB was happy to partner and collaborate with Topcon to enhance vision services for beneficiaries in the Nunatsiavut communities.

– Abby Webb, NIHB Manager, Department Health & Social Development

In the expansive and rugged terrains of Nunatsiavut, a self-governing region rich in cultural and historical heritage, accessing essential services like healthcare presents significant challenges for its Inuit population. Located in the northeastern part of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, many areas are inaccessible by road, exacerbating the isolation faced by residents, particularly in accessing essential services such as healthcare.

The Nunatsiavut Government has recognized the critical need for eye care and has partnered with Topcon to commit to bridging this gap, ensuring that even the most isolated communities in Nunatsiavut have access to vital eye care services. The Nunatsiavut Government’s Department of Health and Social Development plays a pivotal role in catering to the healthcare needs of the Nunatsiavut Inuit population. Collaborating with provincial authorities such as Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services and Health Canada, the department supports its partner’s comprehensive range of healthcare services, including specialized medical care, hospital facilities, and community clinics, are accessible.    

At Topcon, we understand the critical need for eye care and are committed to ensuring that communities in even the most isolated parts of the world can access the eye care services they need. Our efforts are not just about providing medical services and equipment; we want to improve the quality of life and ease access to eye care for these communities, empowering them to see Nunatsiavut, ‘our beautiful land,’ with a new vision.

– Al Brooks, President of Topcon Canada  

Collaborative Efforts Enhance Eye Care Access

The Nunatsiavut Government strives to address the diverse health determinants affecting the Labrador Inuit by fostering collaborative partnerships with various organizations and government bodies. With their financial support, Topcon has applied diligent efforts and creative solutions to contribute significantly to the delivery of vision services to community members. This investment in new equipment and the establishment of a contract for service delivery represents a significant improvement in the quality of life for the Labrador Inuit.

Thanks to the Nunatsiavut Government’s Department of Health and Social Development’s financial contribution to this initiative, Topcon provided a large quantity of NW500 non-mydriatic retinal cameras, TRK-2P auto kerato-refracto-tonometers, and full exam lanes, marking the start of a massive and coordinated undertaking.

Overcoming Complex Logistics

Navigating the logistical complexities of delivering equipment to remote Inuit communities was no small feat. However, the Nunatsiavut Government’s partnership with Topcon initiated a massive logistics operation to address this issue.

The operation kicked off by shipping twenty pallets of equipment to Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, a key distribution point for the initiative. From there, the challenge of reaching the remote communities began. Four pallets of equipment were sent by air to each of five Labrador Inuit communities: Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville, and Rigolet.

When not ice-covered, these areas are accessible only by air and sea. This involved coordinating with local carriers, such as the Twin Otter planes operated by Air Borealis, and leveraging aircraft capable of landing on gravel runways.

Abby Webb, the NIHB Manager, and Wanda Blake, Policy Analyst – Vision, played pivotal roles in arranging the shipment to these communities. At the same time, the Nunatsiavut Government funded accommodations and logistics for the team in each community, ensuring the safe and timely delivery of equipment.

With Abby and Wanda’s help, Topcon Canada’s team on site; John Hathazi, Sales Manager for Atlantic Canada, and Samuel Bilodeau, Senior Repair Technician, with a combined experience of 20 years at Topcon, successfully installed five complete exam rooms in each Labrador Inuit community. Thanks to their extensive expertise, John and Samuel were able to complete each installation in a single day.

The Future of Eye Care in Nunatsiavut

The Inuit communities in Nunatsiavut face unique challenges due to their remote and isolated geography, which have limited access to healthcare and challenging living conditions. Such conditions include varying day-night light cycles, snow glare, and a higher prevalence of ocular pathologies, all of which make preventive eye care crucial.

Now, with permanent equipment on-site, optometrists can increase their visits to Nunatsiavut and provide eye care more frequently. The communities now benefit from increased access to preventive care and treatment.

This funding from the Nunatsiavut Government has played a crucial part in improving healthcare providers to continue their important work for these communities. Through diligent efforts and creative solutions, community members can now receive eye care, significantly improving their quality of life.

Creating meaningful partnerships can expand horizons and redefine what’s possible for eye care!