Education and Awareness
Since our last newsletter, we have continued to raise awareness and provide education by delivering seminars to reach wider into our communities.
Coming out of lockdowns and with Covid restrictions removed, we have been able to deliver 16 seminars (in English) in-person and online to community groups topeople in Christchurch and Auckland.
16 seminars have been presented to Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) and two to Korean audiences in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland with two online.
We appreciate Auckland Council Libraries for welcoming us into the local libraries to deliver presentations in Chinese and Korean.
These seminars are funded through your generous donations. We want to share with you how your support makes a difference by sharing some of the feedback received
A well organised, well-presented talk. I had never heard of macular degeneration before. I found your talk interesting and informative. At 84 years I will be on the lookout. Sight is so precious.
Your talks are so worthwhile as I'm sure many people have not heard of this disease.
Excellent. Very helpful for us.
Excellent. Increased my knowledge.
Very clear and concise Informative. Well presented with great illustrations/ presentation.
Thank you so helpful to be more informed with dry so will be mindful of following up with eye care.
Well-presented easy to understand and very informative.
A very good talk by someone with a lot of knowledge and was very good.
Presenter was great. Explained it so it was easy to understand.
Coming up in 2023
We hope to deliver public seminars in Taupo, Wellington, Timaru and Whangarei in the second half of 2023. If you are registered on our mailing list and reside in the area, you will receive a seminar notice with a message to register with a request spread the word to others who may be interested.
Watch a recorded seminar on line:
https://www.mdnz.org.nz/prerecorded-video
While you are on the website check out a range of videos to watch online while you are inside keeping warm over winter. And don’t forget to read the many patient stories too.
0800 save sight helpline update
Unfortunately, our service to you through the 0800 Save Sight helpline has been restricted. We acknowledge that many of you do not like leaving messages, yet this is the only way we have been able to manage this service recently. Remedies are underway and all will be normal again soon. Meanwhile please leave your message, your name and number and we will call you. The messages are checked daily.
Leave a message on 0800 macula (0800 622 852)
Expos and Conferences
As part of MDNZ’s goal to reach more people at-risk of macular degeneration, we hosted an information stand at the Retirement and Lifestyle Weekend Expo in Tauranga in March. The Expo attracted 3000 people, a good proportion of whom stopped to talk, asked questions and happily received brochures and a free pen.
This Expo was targeted at people in retirement and great interest was shown in learning about macular degeneration.
The Goodfellow GP Conference (also in March) in Auckland gave us the opportunity to speak with doctors, nurses, registrars, students and other health professionals. These primary healthcare professionals were keen to learn more about macular degeneration. Of particular interest was MDNZ’s online learning module that can be completed anywhere and at any time, while, earning professional development points.
A link to the learning module “Understanding Macular degeneration” can be found on https://www.mdnz.org.nz/professional-development
In May, MDNZ’s General Manager Sarah Berman attended the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) NZ branch Annual Scientific meeting in Wellington. With 280 participants Sarah was able to meet with ophthalmologists, nurses, technicians, students, practice managers and registrars. She gave a talk to around 100 people on collaboration between MDNZ and ophthalmology practices, which was very well received.
MDNZ will have a display stand at two upcoming GP Conferences, to keep the key messages about macular degeneration in front of the healthcare professionals. These are held annually in June in Rotorua and in August in Christchurch.
