Amstelveen, 1 June 2021

Dear visitor,

The COVID-19 pandemic has a global impact. The economic consequences are also unprecedented. All of this has not left the Asian Eye Care Association unaffected either. We are experiencing major obstacles in continuing fundraising and ophthalmic projects in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

At this time, it no longer appears possible to raise sufficient funds to provide eye surgeries, outpatient care and training at the required level. Furthermore, the many travel restrictions and quarantines have made the planning and realization of our complex medical programs virtually impossible.

It is against this background that at our general assembly of members on 1 October 2020, the decision was unanimously made to dissolve the Asian Eye Care Association as of 1 June 2021. This final decision proved to be the only right option due to the lack of required resources and perspective.

Needless to say, this is a difficult decision that also fills us with sadness. It is certainly bitter that a precious collaboration built up over the years with many stakeholders in the Netherlands and Southeast Asia, including ophthalmologists, surgical assistants, students, local governments, embassies, INGOs and volunteers, comes to an end in this way. In addition, the knowledge that many more cataract patients could have been successfully operated on by AEC is also difficult to accept.

Although we would have liked to continue our various ophthalmic activities for some time to come, we look back with satisfaction and gratitude on an extraordinarily energizing and productive period of 21 years during which we collectively did a great deal of work in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

We thank you very much for your interest in the medical work of Asian Eye Care.

With kind regards,

ASIAN EYE CARE,
Prof. Dr. Ton de Boer, Chairman
Dr. Eric van Agtmaal, Secretary