Sanduk Ruit
Encyclopedia
Dr. Sanduk Ruit is a Nepali
eye surgeon whose small-incision cataract surgery with the use of inexpensive intraocular lenses has enabled hundreds of thousands of poor cataract patients of Nepal and other countries to regain their sight. Dr. Ruit was awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award
in 2006 and Thailand's Prince Mahidol Award in 2007.
of northeast Nepal, a mountain area of Nepal
. The nearest school was eleven days away by foot in his village. However, his father, a small time businessman, placed a priority on providing education to his children, and sent Sanduk to St Robert’s School in Darjeeling for studies and also provided financial support in his early medical career.
In 1969 Dr Ruit received his School Leaving Certificate from Siddhartha Vanasthali School
in Kathmandu, Nepal, and later was educated in India beginning in 1981 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and also studied in the Netherlands
, Australia
and the United States, and was mentored by an Australian Professor, Dr. Fred Hollows
.
(IOL). Dr. Ruit was the first Nepali doctor to use IOLs in cataract surgery.
However, the high cost of IOLs placed them out of reach for many poor cataract patients, and Ruit started looking for alternatives to reduce the cost of IOLs. In 1995 he devised an international standard IOL that could be produced for far less than those manufactured in developed countries. The cost of IOLs that was around US$ 100, has now been reduced to US$ 3.5.
Ruit also credits his wife, an ophthalmic nurse whom he married in 1987, as being a pillar of strength to him in his difficult days while pursuing his dream project of Tilganga.
by the patients as a result.
, "for service to humanity by establishing eye care services in Nepal and surrounding countries, and for his work in teaching and training surgeons, and technical innovation".
June 2006, Dr. Ruit was awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
Nepali people
Nepali people can refer to:*People of Nepal*Ethnic Nepalis of Indian citizenry residing in Gorkhaland area of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and other parts of India.* Indian Gorkhas*Lhotshampas of Bhutan.*Nepali diaspora the world over....
eye surgeon whose small-incision cataract surgery with the use of inexpensive intraocular lenses has enabled hundreds of thousands of poor cataract patients of Nepal and other countries to regain their sight. Dr. Ruit was awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
in 2006 and Thailand's Prince Mahidol Award in 2007.
Early life and education
Ruit was born in 1955 to uneducated parents in the remote Olangchungola Pass in Taplejung DistrictTaplejung District
Taplejung District of 134,698.The name Taplejung is derived from the words "Taple" and "Jung". Taple was the medieval Limbu King who used to rule the area and "Jung" in Limbu language means Fort. Literally, Taplejung means Fort of King Taple....
of northeast Nepal, a mountain area of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. The nearest school was eleven days away by foot in his village. However, his father, a small time businessman, placed a priority on providing education to his children, and sent Sanduk to St Robert’s School in Darjeeling for studies and also provided financial support in his early medical career.
In 1969 Dr Ruit received his School Leaving Certificate from Siddhartha Vanasthali School
Siddhartha Vanasthali School
Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute is a secondary school located in Balaju, Kathmandu, Nepal. Though it was established in 1973, its historic roots go back to 1951.- Scholarship :...
in Kathmandu, Nepal, and later was educated in India beginning in 1981 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and also studied in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United States, and was mentored by an Australian Professor, Dr. Fred Hollows
Fred Hollows
Frederick "Fred" Cossom Hollows, AC was an ophthalmologist who became known for his work in restoring eyesight for countless thousands of people in Australia and many other countries...
.
Major works
In 1986, Ruit and Hollows developed a strategy to use small-incision cataract surgery (SICS) in the developing world at the community level, through the use of a low-cost intraocular lensIntraocular lens
An intraocular lens is an implanted lens in the eye, usually replacing the existing crystalline lens because it has been clouded over by a cataract, or as a form of refractive surgery to change the eye's optical power. It usually consists of a small plastic lens with plastic side struts, called...
(IOL). Dr. Ruit was the first Nepali doctor to use IOLs in cataract surgery.
However, the high cost of IOLs placed them out of reach for many poor cataract patients, and Ruit started looking for alternatives to reduce the cost of IOLs. In 1995 he devised an international standard IOL that could be produced for far less than those manufactured in developed countries. The cost of IOLs that was around US$ 100, has now been reduced to US$ 3.5.
Vision
Ruit joined with a few people who shared his vision to start the Tilganga Eye Center on June 7, 1994, but due to opposition by the establishment who considered the technique too risky, they virtually operated underground for six months. His efficient model of eye care is now practiced in many parts of the world, with U.S. military surgeons being scheduled to be trained under Dr. Ruit as well.Ruit also credits his wife, an ophthalmic nurse whom he married in 1987, as being a pillar of strength to him in his difficult days while pursuing his dream project of Tilganga.
Media
A National Geographic documentary Inside North Korea on Dr. Ruit's work therein was remarkable not only in being able to document his successful surgery in the highly controlled country, but the overt adulation given to Kim Jong-ilKim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
by the patients as a result.
Awards
On 18 May 2007, Ruit was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, "for service to humanity by establishing eye care services in Nepal and surrounding countries, and for his work in teaching and training surgeons, and technical innovation".
June 2006, Dr. Ruit was awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award.