ICEH UPDATE

to social disparities made her acutely aware of the injustices of and the need to address the political and Peek social causes of disease. Peek, the Portable Eye Examination In 1956, Erika was accepted to study Kit, is a set of diagnostic tools that medicine in . As there was a allows eye care workers to use a need for an eye specialist at Elim Hospital,

Erika Sutter (Private collection) smartphone to screen eye patients. she trained further in , It makes use of ‘cloud’-based returning to South Africa in 1965 as a fully systems to enable data sharing, qualified ophthalmologist. She worked referral and follow-up of patients. tirelessly at Elim Hospital while at the The Peek team has developed same time developing dreams for a tests for visual acuity, contrast, colour, comprehensive approach to blindness prevention. Her dreams were realised in visual fields, and childhood vision. three important projects: the introduction Peek Acuity, the visual acuity of a Diploma in Ophthalmic , the test (soon to be released on establishment of the Rivoni Rehabilitation Android phones in late 2015/early Centre for Visually Impaired and Blind 2016), is shown in a validation People, and, most notably, the Elim Care study published in JAMA Group Project. Having treated the late Ophthalmology to be reliable, Dr Erika Sutter effects of trachoma for many years, Erika accurate and fast. It has since been 1917–2015 realised that “it was necessary to come used by teachers in a school We put aside our sadness at the death of out of the hospital and to the people, there screening programme in Kenya in Erika Sutter, at the impressive age of 98, where the disease starts – in order to which over 20,000 children were to celebrate the life of a truly remarkable reach those who could still do something screened in two weeks. pioneering ophthalmologist and inspira- to prevent it.” Working with Selina Peek is also working closely with tional human being. Maphorogo, she founded the Care Groups, partners to provide population-based Some of the Community Eye Health village self-help groups working for better survey tools, outreach systems and Journal’s readers will have been touched health in their communities. Within three educational materials – all of which by Erika’s powerful promotion of community years of starting the project, the preva- will be done using a smartphone. development in her capacity as an ophthal- lence of active trachoma had decreased by Peek apps will be free to download mologist, a teacher at the International 50%. The movement is still strong more from the Google Play store once Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) in London than 30 years later with around 2,000 ready for release. To keep updated and the Swiss Tropical Institute in Basel, members in over 200 villages working for on our research, release dates and and author of academic papers and improved health and social development. news, please sign up to our educational books, most notably Hanyane, Those of us who worked with Erika at newsletter at www.peekvision.org A Village Struggles for Eye Health. ICEH admired her for her humility, her

Erika Sutter was born and raised in dogged determination to do a job properly Peek Basel, Switzerland. After completing a with meticulous attention to detail, and doctorate in plant in 1952, her belief that the perspectives of the she worked for Roche and then the powerless – village women, and health Swedish University of Agricultural workers low down in the medical hierarchy Sciences. Throughout this time her faith – are crucial to finding solutions. guided her towards a missionary life. She Victoria Francis, London, August 2015 joined the Swiss Mission in South Africa and took up the position of laboratory Further reading A community health worker uses technician at the missionary hospital in Erika Sutter. Seen with Other Eyes. Memories of a Swiss Eye Doctor in Rural South Africa. Told by Gertrud Stiehle. Peek to measure someone’s vision Elim, an impoverished rural area in North- Lives Legacies Legends Vol 10, Basler Afrika Bibliographien in their own home. KENYA Eastern South Africa. Here her alertness 2013. ISBN 978-3-905758-33-7

BOOK REVIEW Eye diseases in hot climates (5th edition)

It is now almost 30 years diabetic retinopathy now feature more invaluable aid to their practice. since this excellent text was prominently, but all the main causes of I recommend this book to all those first published and ten years blindness, including cataract, are covered. interested in ‘tropical’ ophthalmology and since the 4th edition. The The book starts with an excellent review who want a clearly written, beautifully illus- book has become a staple of global blindness, its propensity for hot trated and comprehensive text. for all eye health professionals who have climates, the impact of VISION 2020 and Nick Astbury worked in places where blindness is still the community eye health approach to The book is available at the greatly discounted price of such a scourge for poor communities. prevention and health education. £12 + postage and packing (£30 on Amazon) through the The 5th edition, with its striking cover One of the pillars of VISION 2020 is Ulverscroft Foundation. To order the book at this price, contact Joyce Sumner, Ulverscroft Foundation, The Green, illustration, has been extensively revised the eye care team and this book caters Bradgate Road, Anstey, Leicestershire, LE7 7FU, UK. to reflect the changes that have taken for ophthalmic nurses, clinical officers, tel: +44(0)116 236 1595 fax: +44(0)116 236 1594. Email [email protected] or visit place over the last ten years. Diseases assistants and medical students as well www.foundation.ulverscroft.com/EyeBooks.htm to such as macular degeneration and as ophthalmologists who will find it an find out about other textbooks available from Ulverscroft.

© The author/s and Community Eye Health Journal 2015. This is an Open Access COMMUNITY EYE HEALTH JOURNAL | VOLUME 28 ISSUE 91 | 2015 55 article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License.