Specialists Strategize To Curb Avoidable Blindness

By Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh

Eye specialists in the Southwest Region have implemented strategies to eliminate avoidable blindness in the country by 2020.

This was the outcome of the Eye Care Programme Strategic Review that took place in Kumba from January 8 - 9.Being the phase II evaluation of the programme after that of 2005, the specialists addressed avoidable blindness in a significant way.

The participants drawn from all the eye care units in the Southwest advocated the implementation of planning and investing in operative research activities.The specialists recommended that proper monitoring and auditing of finances in the sector be done on regular basis.

They equally resolved that eye units should focus on demand generation through the provision of high quality, credible, reliable and patient-friendly service, amongst others.
Speaking to The Post, Dr. Matilda Ayukonchong, the Southwest Regional Chief of Unit for Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation said the Eye Care Programme started in 2001, with an eye care unit in Limbe.

She explained that their activities where rolled out into the whole region in three phases, corresponding to the setting up of three main eye units, Limbe (2002), Mamfe (2004) and Kumba (2005).

The Dr. Ayukonchong stated that four ophthalmic nurses were posted to Akwaya, Fontem, Bangem and Mundemba in 2007 as satellite eye clinics adding to Buea.She added that optical services were introduced in 2006 and low vision services in 2007.

For Dr. Joseph Enyegue Oye, Sightsavers Country Director, Cameroon, their replicable model implemented from 2009 to 2011 shall influence people's lives based on the cases treated within the region.

He said many people in Cameroon remained blind in the past because treatment was very expensive reason why they effected the Eye Care Programme with cheap and reliable services.

The Eye Care Programme is part of the National Health Development Plan in the Ministry of Public Health with Sightsavers as partners.