About Us
Developments
In January 2009 the MHMT transferred £50,000 to equip an ocular cancer facility within the MHCECC, saving children's lives as well as their sight. On the first anniversary of the inauguration of the MHCECC (3rd July, 2009) the cancer facility became fully operational.
In 2009 fundraising was focused on acquiring a RetCam which takes images of the retina, at back of the eye. The incidence of vision disorders in the retina is high, second only to cataract, making this equipment so essential.
The RetCam Shuttle was installed in the MHCECC in June 2010, and in July, on the second anniversary of the opening of the MHCECC, BLVPEI hosted a Neonatal Ophthalmology Convention to demonstrate the RetCam and promote referrals to the MHCECC.
We have capitalised on this considerable investment by acquiring a modified Mobile Unit so that the portable RetCam Shuttle can be transported safely to the local maternity hospital twice a week to screen premature and underweight babies for detached retina. The rest of the week the Mobile Unit carries equipment to test the eyesight of children in isolated villages and slum areas where children are unlikely to be attending school. If necessary, spectacles are supplied without charge. The Mobile Unit displays the name of the Miriam Hyman Children's Eye Care Centre to publicise accessibility of local eye care services.
Our next project was the upgrade of the MHMT Operating Room. The equipment has now been installed. There is an additional anesthesia station, an ultrasound scanner, a baby warmer and a mounted microscopic camera with accompanying computer and software.
We raised funds for a specular microscope that is especially useful for cornea transplant and Miriam's friend, Marc Rubinstein secured a donation of $5000 from Goldman Sachs Gives to train technicians in the use of the Specular Microscope. We helped to expand the paediatric Glaucoma Unit, and our current target is £50,000 to fund an MHCECC consultant to receive advanced training abroad for one year.
2009 was also a ground-breaking year in developing the concepts, design and structure of an electronic Resource for schools (working title "Miriam Hyman: Memorial Vision") to address issues of social cohesion and global citizenship through Miriam's story. In partnership with Copthall School (Miriam's secondary school), this project is being developed, tested and piloted before it is launched.
The MHMT worked with independent film company, KTF Films (www.ktffilms.com), who documented three positive responses to the terrorist attacks in New York, London and Bali. Miriam's sister, Esther Hyman, filmed with them at the Miriam Hyman Children's Eye Care Centre in March 2009, and they recorded more footage in London in November. The feature-length documentary entitled "Love Hate Love" was premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2011 and had its US television premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network as part of their "Super Soul Sunday" programming in March 2012.
The RetCam Shuttle at the MHCECC
The mobile unit