Comm Eye Health Vol. 11 No. 25 1998 pp 16. Published online 01 March 1998.

Letter. Landmine injury

Paul Courtright DrPH

Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, St Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6

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Dear Sir

Mr Hernando Fabiao, a farmer from a village next to Inharrime (Inhambane Province, Mozambique), had to have his right eye enucleated by the ophthalmic assistant after injuries sustained to his eye when he stepped on a mine, on August 27, 1997. Hernando’s left eye has sympathetic uveitis which hopefully will resolve – his current vision is finger counting at 2 metres. Luckily, Hernando did not lose his leg; but he had injuries to his chest and arms. Hernando explained that there are quite a few mines scattered around his village, some visible next to the school play area. He and his community have been begging the government for assistance in removing the mines, but due to the huge number of mines in Mozambique (about 1 million) their area has not been de-mined, as yet. Hernando is in his 30s; his family needs his efforts just to survive.

Mr Hernando Fabiao, Mozambique, after a landmine injury destroyed his right eye. © Paul Courtright
Mr Hernando Fabiao, Mozambique, after a landmine injury destroyed his right eye. © Paul Courtright

Hernando agreed to let me take his picture after I explained that a friend of mine is very much involved in the campaign to ban landmines and he would like the picture to use for his work.