Inclusive Eye Project offers Free Eye Screening to about 200 People in Bamenda
Close to 200 people in Bamenda have benefited from free eye screening organized by the CBC Health Services within the Inclusive Eye
Health Project. The two outreach screenings were organized recently in collaboration with the Prime Home Health Center and Musang Baptist Church respectively.
According to the Head of the Eye Department of the Nkwen Baptist Health Center Lucha Johnson, the objective of the outreach screenings was to take health care closer to the people in a bit to prevent, treat and rehabilitate those with disabilities and those at risk of having disabilities. He noted that during the screenings, many blinding conditions were identified with medications prescribed, while some conditions were further referred to an eye specialist.
Speaking to the Chief of Center of Prime Home Health Center, Banja Street Bamenda, he said, “We feel privileged to be chosen as the clinic where the outreach could be organized given that it provides visibility to the center. I pray for more of these kinds of outreach screenings to be organized in my health center,” Divine Mbah expressed his gratitude.
Meli Kinfack, one of the clients who came to screen her eyes said consultation for eye services in hospitals sometimes is a bit expensive for her. “Opportunities like this one given by the CBC Health Services are rare to come by and that is the reason why I had to make use of it by coming here today to screen my eyes. I am also encouraging others in my neighborhood to come for this free screening,” expressed Meli happily.
The outreach screening is the first organized after the Inclusive Eye Project was launched in June 2021. The objective of the project is to improve access to inclusive eye health services for the populations of the North West Region during the COVID-19 Pandemic. For its two years of implementation, the project will improve infection prevention and control measures against COVID-19 in 16 participating health units in the Northwest Region, improve capacity to provide high quality and inclusive eye health services, and improve community awareness on prevention of blindness and COVID-19 for all persons in the community including persons with disabilities.
The outreach is just one amongst many which will be organized in churches and communities in the days ahead, thanks to funding from Christian Blind Mission (CBM).