Organisation: Behind the Picture
Location: Timor-Leste
Photographer: Frenky Ramiro de Jesus 

Photographer, Frenky, took this picture of a couple from a very rural area in Timor-Leste after Cataract surgery on their both eyes. What I love the most is their smiles when they know that everything was going well, and there is hope for them to see again. 

What is it about this image that you love? 

It is a picture of a couple from a very rural area in Timor-Leste after Cataract surgery on their both eyes. What I love the most is their smiles when they know that everything was going well, and there is hope for them to see again.  

Do you remember anything about the subject? For example, were the patients shy to have their pictures taken, funny, curious? From memory, these two are husband and wife. Do you remember anything about them, their bond? 

Well, actually I was planning to take their picture after the surgery, because it is rare to see a couple together come for operation. It was a little bit funny, because a lady was shy to be hugged by her husband and didn’t want to take photo. We took many photos, but this photo was good in comparison with others.  

This couple live in a village far away from the capital. They live alone by themselves in a small house. Once their relative came to visit and found that they couldn’t see. For this purpose, their relative brought them to the eye clinic in the capital for further consultation and treatment.  

Do you recall anything about the location on that day? For example, was the hospital busy? What was happening behind the scenes? 

Eye clinic is the only eyes services available in the country. So, all  of cases come to eye clinic. On that day, there were a lot of patients for consultation. One of the Eyecare nurse in the clinic came to inform me that there was a couple with bilateral hypermature cataract and need for consultation. They came on Friday morning. After the examination and investigation done, I planned for bilateral SICS in one session for both. I explained about the pre-op, intra-op and post-op procedures and also self-care after the operation to the relative. The couple was afraid in the beginning but accepted for operation after a detailed explanation about the benefit after the operation. After their acceptance, I straight plan for the surgery the next Monday. And at the next day, they both were very happy because after years, they can see again.  

What about shooting this project did you find interesting? For example, the sheer need for eye care services? 

It was interesting to shoot this project. At the same time, we used the photo to encourage those people in rural area to come for eye consultation. Because there is still lack of knowledges of people about eye health and many of them still afraid to get operated their cataracts. And I do believe that in the next few years, the quality of the eye health services in Timor-Leste will be better.