AUGUST 2020 | EYEWORLD | 13
ASCRS Foundation: You visit the Sinskey
Eye Institute often. It serves more than
24,000 patients annually; how are they
coping during this?
Dr. Erny: They are doing surgery occasionally
for bilaterally blind, uniocular blind, and any
urgent cases. While the staff continues to go
to the clinic every weekday as usual, there is a
growing concern about the rising numbers of
COVID-19 and the number of medical person-
nel infected. Ayalew Allehone, MD, the senior
ophthalmologist at Sinskey Eye Institute, who
mentors rotating residents, said the hospital
is taking measures against COVID-19. Dr.
Allehone said, "We are managing our corridors
by calling fewer patients at a time, keeping out
relatives of patients unless they are needed,
and ventilating our exam rooms by keeping
windows wide open, using available PPE, and
praying."
ASCRS Foundation: Dr. Allehone and the
staff at the Sinskey Eye Institute are being
very proactive to protect staff and patients.
Dr. Erny: Yes, they are. I know this is all in ad-
dition to having patients wear masks and remain
in an outdoor waiting area until called. With
no sinks in the exam rooms, frequently hand
sanitizing is key. With the heightened unease,
Dr. Allehone was happy to have the support
of the Foundation and the Himalayan Cataract
Project (HCP). He said, "We have received the
second round of PPE material donation. We are
very grateful for the unwavering support from
ASCRS and HCP."
For more information on the Foundation's
international work, visit: https://ascrs.org/
foundation/international.
Contact
Jaya Minhas: jminhas@ascrs.org
Patients waiting to be called in outdoor waiting room
Patients wearing masks in the waiting room
Source (all): University of Gondar
