11 February 2008
Fred Hollows Foundation support a major win for Indigenous health
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said today that a $3 million dollar specialist eye care centre in Alice Springs to be funded by the Fred Hollows Foundation would make a significant difference to the lives of Indigenous people.
Mr Calma said the Fred Hollows Foundation had an excellent track record in Indigenous health and community development and empowerment and has played a major role for many years in rectifying the inequality that exists in the health of Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people.
“This new specialist eye care centre will go a long way towards redressing the significant and well documented eye diseases disproportionately afflicting Indigenous people in central Australia,” Commissioner Calma said.
“It is particularly appropriate that the announcement was made yesterday, on the anniversary of the death of Fred Hollows.”
Mr Calma said the Fred Hollows Foundation was a strong supporter of the 'Close the Gap' Campaign for Indigenous Health Equality which aimed to close the gap in life expectancy that see Indigenous people die on average 17 years earlier than non-Indigenous people.
“The centre is a much needed element in the suite of medical services which must exist if we are to overcome the challenge of closing the gap in health status and life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians,” Mr Calma said.
Media contact: Louise McDermott on (02) 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597
