MICEI performs over 3,000 free eye consultations, treats 400 diagnosed with cataract.

This year’s edition of World Sight Day was placed under the theme “Love your eyes at work”. The free eye consultations were conducted in some sites in Yaounde, Centre Region and Sangmelima, South Region. 

A total of 672 people were consulted in Sangmelima while 2,847 others were consulted in Yaounde by the end of the consultation phase.

Meanwhile, the 400 people diagnosed with cataract disease were operated free of charge at the Magrabi eye hospital located in Obak, outskirt of Yaounde.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of MICEI, Dr Henry Nkumbe, the World Sight Day gives an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the eye especially at work places and making comprehensive quality eye care available to all. 

“It is important that we don’t wait until the eyes cannot see or the vision is failing before going to consult with an eye specialist because in some cases it may be too late,” Dr Nkumbe said.

He continued that: “We started our campaign not in October but in September. We started in Yaounde with some outreaches and so far we are at more than 3,000 free eye consultation which we have done in Yaounde and the health district of Sangmelima,” the MICEI CEO said, adding that “amongst those 3,000 people consulted, about 400 were diagnose with cataract”.

When quizzed on why the campaign placed a special attention on cataract diagnosis, the renowned ophthalmologist said cataract remains one of the most important causes of vision lost or blindness in Cameroon. 

The disease being the first cause of vision loss, he stressed that nobody should be blind from cataract in Cameroon a country with qualified specialists with the skills, equipment, and technical knowhow to treat cataracts. 

MICEI CEO cutting symbolic ribbon to inaugurate donated bus 

Ophthalmology Foundation donates to MICEI

In order to support the humanitarian gesture of MICEI, the American organisation, Ophthalmology Foundation, donated a brand new 30-seater bus to aid in transporting patients to and fro the hospital.

The Ophthalmology Foundation, led by Dr David Pyott as president, works to improve the training of eye care professionals in the world, especially in countries with low income.

“They are very much appreciative of the work that the MICEI has been doing in the training of eye care professionals not just for Cameroon but other African countries, and also the high quality subspecialties care that we provide for our patients,” added Dr Nkumbe, who also doubles as representative of Ophthalmology Foundation in Cameroon.  

The ophthalmologist further explained that the donated bus will help in transporting the patients who underwent the cataract surgery back to their localities. 

“We have 24 patients from the health district of Sangmelima who underwent free sight restoring cataract surgery and they will be boarding this bus back home to Sangmelima,” the CEO stated.

He continued that “they know that 80% of people living with blindness are people who are senior citizens and at times it’s difficult for them to move from their localities to visit eye facilities”. 

MICEI administrators saying farewell to patients from Sangmelima after free surgery

Speaking after the donation, Dr David Pyott said, “MICEI is playing a leading role in the training of eye care professionals in sub-Saharan Africa and providing world class subspecialty eye care to all irrespective of ability to pay”. 

“We are therefore happy to support their outreach services through the donation of this 30 seater minibus,” President of Ophthalmology Foundation added. 

Beneficiaries express gratitude 

Speaking briefly before boarding their bus, the representative of the beneficiary patients from Sangmelima, Balla Marcel expressed immense gratitude to their benefactors for the free surgery at MICEI and the bus to transport them back home. 

“We thank the person who had this initiative and all those who helped in making it become a reality for us,” Balla said. 

The patients’ spokesperson equally declared their wish for the gesture by MICEI to continue in other areas to enable more people to receive the life-changing eye surgery. 

Patients receiving post-surgery lectures from medics

On her part, Minla Margot, another patient said her sight has been restore after undergoing the operation for which she remains grateful. 

“After the surgery, I can already see well without any issue. So I really want to thank God because I never knew I could one day regain my full sight,” the elated mother said.