Robert Dolo: The Immense Commitment of an Ophthalmic Nurse
Robert Dolo is an ophthalmic nurse who has been working with Unite For Sight in Ghana since 2006. He is now returning to school to pursue an advanced degree in cataract surgery, with sponsorship from Unite For Sight. Throughout his life and work with Unite For Sight, Robert has demonstrated determination and dedication to eliminating preventable blindness, despite myriad obstacles.
Since 2006, Robert has worked for Crystal Eye Clinic and Unite For Sight to coordinate and provide eye care in rural villages throughout Ghana. At the clinic, he takes care of pre- and post-operative ophthalmic patients, assists ophthalmologists during surgeries, and trains Unite For Sight volunteers in local program activities as well as various eye diseases.
Since elementary school, Robert dreamt of becoming a healthcare professional. Yet his life-long dream was halted due to the political violence and protracted civil crisis in Liberia that lasted for fourteen years. The years of civil war, which started December 1989, brought about a major setback in both Robert’s developmental and educational life. Yet in 2000, he was able to enroll in the nursing training college and in 2003 earned a diploma in professional nursing at the Winifred J. Harley School of Nursing.
Robert has now decided to continue the pursuit of his dream to become a cataract surgeon. His motivation stems from his desire to join other eye care providers in their quest to eliminate preventable blindness and create an eye disease-free community. “There is not nearly enough trained medical staff to tackle this challenging problem,” he says. “Ophthalmologists alone cannot meet these challenges. They need the total involvement of other eye care providers including cataract surgeons, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, etc.” Unite For Sight has joined in support of Robert, providing him with a comprehensive sponsorship to be trained as a cataract surgeon in the Regional Ophthalmic Training program in The Gambia from 2009-2010.
Yet Robert’s dreams do not stop there. Upon completion of his training, Robert wishes to take an innovative approach to solving the problem of blindness and visual impairment. In order to make a significant impact on reducing eye diseases in Liberia and increase awareness regarding eye health, he plans to open the New Sight Eye Center (NSEC). Robert envisions this center as a modern and well equipped eye clinic which will provide quality, effective and regular eye care services to those living in poverty-stricken communities. “The principal goal of the New Sight Eye Center” he says, “is to make holistic eye care services available, accessible and affordable to the underserved people of Liberia.” Robert finds motivation and optimism in helping others as he continues to make his vision of a better world a reality.