UBA Cameroon's eye check initiative creating awareness on eye care.

On Friday January 24, scores of Douala city dwellers and clients of the bank turned out massively at Head Office in Akwa to grasp the opportunity offered to them, get their eyes checked as ophthalmologists say regular eye check helps detect diseases early. 

However, in today's Cameroon, eye care is still considered out of reach for a big proportion of the public. UBA's Corporate Communication Head, Fointama Che, said UBA Foundation identified the growing need to help support better eye care and create awareness on its importance. 

"This initiative, in partnership with the eye department of the PCC Health Service, provides free screening and awareness to more than 1,200 people yearly to help improve eye care,” Fointama said. 

“The eyes remain an important organ of the human body. Today, eye care is still considered as expensive by the common man. In a bid to contribute to better eye care and spread awareness on the importance of eye care, the free screening goes a long way to reach out to as many as possible," he said. 

Fointama added that the partnership by joining forces with the Acha Eye Hospital, “we combine resources, expertise and network to reach a broader audience and provide more comprehensive eye care services”. 

The partnership, he said, enables both entities to leverage each other’s strengths and create a more significant impact on eye health in the communities.

For the last four years that the initiative has been carried out, it was said, about 1,200 people have been screened on a yearly basis. The objective this year is to increase to more than 1,500 across five regions; North West, South West, Littoral, West and Centre Regions. 

The screening sessions are done in front of major UBA branches in Douala, Yaounde, Limbe, Bafoussam and Bamenda. The branches are well situated in the different towns and this facilitates access to a bigger population

Importance of regular eye examamination 

The ophthalmologists from the Acha Eye Hospital said regular eye examination can help identify eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration in their early stages.

They said eye examinations can also reveal other health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure which can help correct vision, ensure prescription is current, helping maintain optimal vision, enhances a person's quality of life, early detection may prevent loss of vision, help see clearly which is important for academic success. The campaign will last for a year and following schedule agreed upon by UBA and the Acha Eye Hospital.  

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3354 of Thursday January 30, 2025