Eye Health Program for the Underserved Communities in Cameroon

Mobile eye clinic focuses on reaching out to individuals with no eye care facilities. It equally tries to access and be accessed by those whose circumstances do not permit them attend regular/ institutional services. These could be;

-          Communities

-          Schools

-          Industries/offices

-          Existing health institutions which do not provide eye care services.

The objective/activities are basically the same for the different settings;

Determine the general eye condition

Determine refractive errors

Counsel /health educate

Dispense treatment/ or spectacles

Refer where need be

Mobile clinic is useful / justified in this scenario where there are;

-          The limited number of trained eye care personnel

-          Poor health care coverage and fragmented services provision

-          A considerable number of blind people are old persons who tend to be poor, less mobile and suffer from multiple health problems.

-          Visiting and treating eye patients in their communities can reasonably reduce the cost of eye care services

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MOBILE EYE CLINICS

- Promotion of healthy functional eyes through eye health information, education and communication

- Early detection and treatment of minor eye ailments.

- Counselling and referral for major treatable/operable eye conditions.

- Detection, correction and dispensing of spectacles for refractive errors.

- Generating statistics on the different blinding diseases.

- Determining barriers to service uptake and use.

- Advocating for related specialised services in the provision of integrated eye care; surgery, low vision services, rehabilitation .

WHO CAN RECEIVE SERVICES FROM THE MOBILE EYE CLINIC?

Everyone in targeted communities can access these services; the poor, the rich, the disable, the young and the old.

HOW DOES THE MOBILE EYE CLINIC FUNCTION?

Mobile Eye Clinic works through community relay persons/agents.

 These represent and work with or /for traditional and administrative leaders, religious /political leaders, public and private companies, NGOs, local health authorities, etc.

RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR MOBILE EYE CLINIC

         Other Projects: Vision testing for (refractive errors) defective sight in schools