It is with my deepest condolence to inform you that Prof. Kazuichi Konyama, the leader in prevention of blindness in our Southeast Asian region, has passed away on June 21, 2016, in Tokyo, Japan, his homeland.

Dr. Konyama, although born in Japan, spent his teenage years in Thailand. He attended high school and got his medical degree in Bangkok before went back to complete his training in ophthalmology at Juntendo University in Tokyo.

Although he could have his bright career as an attending staff in Department of Ophthalmology at Jutendo, he chose to come back to Thailand to develop prevention of blindness programs, started in rural areas of the northeastern part of the country. At the time, although residency training programs in ophthalmology was established, hardly anyone knew about public health in ophthalmology in Thailand or in other parts of the world.

Dr. Konyama tirelessly contributed to countless projects of prevention of blindness in Thailand and in various countries in Asia. His most important role, except from being a consultant to WHO, probably be the role of a mentor who led ophthalmic personnel in Asia-Pacific region to realize that, no matter how smart we are, we cannot solve the problem of blindness as an individual. We need to get together, have more co-workers, and solve this problem as teams or networks.

With workshops and seminars for international ophthalmic attendees, Dr. Konyama effectively produced hundreds of followers from his classes. His students passionately conducted their own projects of prevention of blindness in their home countries and this had kept on growing.

His training course "Korat Course" in "Institute of Public Health in Ophthalmology" in Nakorn Ratchasima province, northeast of Thailand, is the world-famous and he trained in this course until his age was more than 70. He would continue to teach if his health was not deteriorated by his age.

I believe his students will follow his footsteps; there will be more and more of his students and students. His passionate legacy will live on.

May his soul rest in peace.

Paisan Ruamviboonsuk, MD.

President

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand

Professor Kazuichi Konyama has a Thai name “Niyom Uthaipak”. He came to Thailand and graduate from Suankularb College in 1950. He then passed the entrance examination and studied pre-medical level in Chulalongkorn University. He graduated medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital in 1956. After that he worked as a resident in the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat department in Siriraj Hospital for 2 years. He then continued his training in ophthalmology in the Juntendo University in Tokyo. The then worked as an instructor in Juntendo University. After that he went to work in the World Health Organization. He also received an MPH degree from John Hopkins University and also taught Biostatistics there.

            In 1968, the Japanese government and Thailand cooperated to improve the health care system. Professor Konyama came to be a faculty in Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital. He also went to help established eye care services in rural areas such as Buriram Hospital in the north-eastern part of Thailand. He had contributed to the establishment of the eye health system in the region. Some of his work included:

1978-1979       Advisor to the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand to establish the national program for prevention of blindness

1978-1979       Consultant to WHO/SEARO in assessing the Indian national plan of prevention of blindness

1980-1981       Consultant to WHO/Geneva working in formulation of national plans for prevention of blindness in member states in the regions of America, Western Pacific and Southeast Asia

            Throughout his life, he emphasized on human resource development and health system development. He created the curriculum for the training of midlevel eye care personnel. He established the famous “Korat Course”, the regional course on prevention of blindness and eye care management. His work had succeeded in creating a network of people in the region working together to improve eye health status for the community. He had received so many awards and recognition.

            In the last few years his health status was not great. He travelled less. Every time I met him, he always had dream not for himself but for the improve eye health status for the people. He passed away in the morning of 21 June 2016. As his students, we are his legacy and share his dream. We will work together to accomplish our dream. Professor Konyama will always be in our heart.

Prut Hanutsaha