GP's charity work helps people see

Hellingly GP Colin Tourle, 65, is one of the founders and directors of Iasis, a medical charity.

Before Christmas he was in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, overseeing the work of an eye surgeon.

He hopes more than 2000 eye cataract operations will be carried out there in the next two years.

He said: 'Cataracts are a common problem in Ethiopia.

'The results from the operations are extremely good and it does not cost patients anything except bus fares.'

Patients sometimes walk 400 miles on stony roads so they can have the operation.

The cataract surgery costs 27 per eye, funded by the charity.

On his last trip Dr Tourle witnessed the joy in patients' faces when they could see again.

He said: 'I got on to a bus with 24 patients who had just had the cataract operations.

'All of them could see again, and they were singing, laughing and dancing.

'It was lovely, they were so happy.

'Those operations happened because of the money we raised in Sussex.'

Dr Tourle has worked as a GP in the Hailsham area for 40 years.

His interest in development work started more than 20 years ago when Romania opened its borders to the west.

He used his medical skills to help orphans in the country.

Then the GP helped refugees in Kosovo, represented the United Nations in East Timor and treated Amazonian Indians in Brazil.

Dr Tourle said: 'Iasis, the name of our charity, is the Greek word for healing.

'I feel that all the while I can help people it is a nice thing to do.

'Financially, the money for the work can come from anywhere.'

Dr Tourle gives talks to raise money for the charity's projects, such as a blind school in Romania.

He hopes to go back to Ethiopia in April.

For further details about Iasis email [email protected] or phone 01243 773983.