Medicine Mondiale
Encyclopedia
Medicine Mondiale is an independent development agency headed by Ray Avery
focused on improving life for the world's poor by developing products and technologies which have applications in both the developing and developed world markets.
and in Nepal
.
Together these labs now supply 10% of the world market for intraocular lenses and together with the efforts of other generic lens manufacturers have collapsed the price of lenses from over US$300 in 1992 to around US$6 today. As a result, cataract
surgery is now available to the poorest of the poor around the world.
Unlike roller-clamp device still commonly used in the developing world, the Acuset is intuitive to use, even by untrained operators. It allows fine control and precision of flow rates, eliminating the accidental harm, and in some cases death, caused by incorrect drug doses http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=286&objectid=8501056.
In 2008 the Acuset was nominated as a finalist in the Saatchi & Saatchi
World Changing Ideas Awards http://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/press-releases/2008/1/07_jan_24_kiwiinnovation_worldchangingideasaward_pressrelease.cfm.
and protein-energy malnutrition
. These are designed to combat acute diarrhoea, which is the leading cause of death in infants under two years of age in the developing world.
The same technology will be used in a range of products targeted at endurance athletes in the developed world.
These products will be manufactured in Nepal
.
.
He had a difficult childhood, spending time in various orphanages and foster homes and even lived for a period on the streets of London
. (http://medicinemondiale.wordpress.com/about-ray/)
However, he overcame that to become a successful scientist and businessman, working for a large multi-national drug company Douglas Pharmaceuticals.
After moving to New Zealand, a chance meeting with world-renowned eye surgeon Fred Hollows
led to him working in Eritrea
and Nepal
to build lens factories for the Fred Hollows Foundation. Exposure to the shortcomings of healthcare in these regions made him determined to use his knowledge and skills to tackle the issues at a practical level.
From his garage laboratory in Mt Eden, Auckland
, New Zealand
, Avery now manages a global network of experts to work on specific projects, many of whom donate their time and knowledge for free http://medicinemondiale.wordpress.com/about-ray/.
Ray Avery (New Zealand scientist)
Sir Raymond "Ray" John Avery, GNZM is a New Zealand scientist who won New Zealander of the Year award for his invention of technology to produce low cost intraocular lenses....
focused on improving life for the world's poor by developing products and technologies which have applications in both the developing and developed world markets.
Intraocular Lenses
Between 1993 and 1997 Ray Avery designed and commissioned two state-of-the-art intraocular lens laboratories in EritreaEritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and in 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...
.
Together these labs now supply 10% of the world market for intraocular lenses and together with the efforts of other generic lens manufacturers have collapsed the price of lenses from over US$300 in 1992 to around US$6 today. As a result, cataract
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
surgery is now available to the poorest of the poor around the world.
Acuset, IV flow controller
The Acuset is a small device designed to control the flow of drugs through an intravenous drip.Unlike roller-clamp device still commonly used in the developing world, the Acuset is intuitive to use, even by untrained operators. It allows fine control and precision of flow rates, eliminating the accidental harm, and in some cases death, caused by incorrect drug doses http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=286&objectid=8501056.
In 2008 the Acuset was nominated as a finalist in the Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi is a global advertising agency network with 140 offices in 80 countries and over 6,500 staff. It was founded in London in 1970 but now headquartered in New York. The parent company of the agency group was known as Saatchi & Saatchi PLC from 1976 to 1994, was listed on the London...
World Changing Ideas Awards http://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/press-releases/2008/1/07_jan_24_kiwiinnovation_worldchangingideasaward_pressrelease.cfm.
Infant Nutrition
Medicine Mondiale is developing a range of nutritional productions for the treatment of dehydrationDehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
and protein-energy malnutrition
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....
. These are designed to combat acute diarrhoea, which is the leading cause of death in infants under two years of age in the developing world.
The same technology will be used in a range of products targeted at endurance athletes in the developed world.
These products will be manufactured in 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...
.
Ray Avery
Ray Avery (known in the third-world countries he works in as "Mr. Ray") was born in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He had a difficult childhood, spending time in various orphanages and foster homes and even lived for a period on the streets of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. (http://medicinemondiale.wordpress.com/about-ray/)
However, he overcame that to become a successful scientist and businessman, working for a large multi-national drug company Douglas Pharmaceuticals.
After moving to New Zealand, a chance meeting with world-renowned eye surgeon 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...
led to him working in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and 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...
to build lens factories for the Fred Hollows Foundation. Exposure to the shortcomings of healthcare in these regions made him determined to use his knowledge and skills to tackle the issues at a practical level.
From his garage laboratory in Mt Eden, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Avery now manages a global network of experts to work on specific projects, many of whom donate their time and knowledge for free http://medicinemondiale.wordpress.com/about-ray/.
External links
- Medicine Mondiale Website
- Poor fortune, Idealog Magazine, Nov 2007
- New Zealand man aids millions with 15c water drip invention, New Zealand Herald, Dec 01 2004