Verma N1

Biography:  

Nitin Verma is a consultant ophthalmologist at Hobart Eye Surgeons and a visiting Medical Specialist at the Royal Hobart hospital. He studied medicine at CMC Vellore, India; has postgraduate ophthalmology qualifications from India, Germany, and Australia and is Clinical Professor at the School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, and the Save Sight Institute at the University of Sydney. 

Nitin has a special interest in international health, macular disease and teleophthalmology and has contributed to the development of undergraduate and postgraduate education at University of Sydney, University of Timor Leste and University of Papua New Guinea. He has been a long-time member of the RANZCO Board and has served as President and Vice President. He currently chairs the Vision 2030 and Beyond Committee and the Global Eye Health Committee of RANZCO; He is a director of Vision 2020 and a member of the International Engagement Committee of Royal Australian College of Surgeons. In 2000 he initiated the East Timor Eye Program. Coordinating work by doctors, optometrists, nurses, and various NGOs from all over the world to establish a self-sufficient, national, eye care program for the people of Timor Leste. Twenty-five years later the program is run by the Timorese government and, in the last decade, the prevalence of blindness in Timor Leste has come down from 7.7% to 2.9%. Nitin is a founding member of the St John Ophthalmic Association, the global arm of St John Eye Hospital: training, teaching, and fundraising for the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. He served as Hospitaller from 2014 to 2023 and was recently invested as Knight  of the Order of St John. 

In recognition of his service, Nitin has been awarded: The Order of Australia; The Order of Timor Leste; The RANZCO Distinguished Service Award and College Medal; The Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Distinguished Service Award and Meritorious Service Award for the Prevention of Blindness; Companion of the Royal College of Australian Surgeons and The Pride of Australia Role Model Award. He was Hobart Citizen of the Year in 2013. 

Abstract: 

This documentary showcases the birth and the early years of the Laila foundation started by Mohammed Sultan and Nitin Verma in 1996 . It highlights the challenges of delivering eye care in PNG in the late 90’s and the steps taken to overcome them. Many of the challenges still exist today. The Laila Foundation exists today and continues to carry out critical work in battling the growing burden of blindness.