Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust releases film emblematic of Her Majesty’s incredible legacy to the Commonwealth.

On the day Her Majesty The Queen becomes the longest serving Monarch, The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust has released a film about pioneering work to end avoidable blindness in the Commonwealth.

The film follows Kenyan Ophthalmologist Dr Hilary Rono, on his journey in identifying and addressing the endemic eye care problems faced in the poorest parts of Kenya.

Dr Rono, is leading research trials in Kenya for a smartphone based eye testing kit called PEEK (Portable Eye Examination Kit).

Through his PhD, funded by The Trust, he has documented the incredible advances that can be made in restoring sight just by improving access to eye care. He said:

“Big change always begins small. People running marathons always begin slowly, but actually when they reach the middle they sprint towards the end. Right now we are at the beginning. We have partners, we have academics, we have the Trust, and all these people are working in tandem, and they are at the start of the revolution. Then we will recruit more community health workers, they’ll start owning the process. And those community workers will recruit more villagers, and that will be the beginning of us winning the race of eliminating avoidable blindness.”

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, established in 2012 to honour Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee, works to eliminate avoidable blindness across the Commonwealth. Eighty percent of all blindness is preventable. 

Chief Executive, Dr Astrid Bonfield said: “By supporting innovative and inspiring people such as Dr Rono, and improving access to, and the quality of eye care across the globe, we are stepping closer towards ending avoidable blindness across the Commonwealth. Four out of five people who are blind needn’t be, and the work of Dr Rono gives us hope that together we can bring an end to this injustice. The film we are launching today aims to illustrate the legacy the Trust is leaving across the Commonwealth in honour of Her Majesty The Queen, and provide a tribute to her on the day she becomes our longest serving Monarch.”

The film will be released on 9 September at 09:00 BST and the first screening will be attended by Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, Vice-Patron of the Trust.

Watch the film here ***http://jubileetribute.org/***

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