Partner Inclusive Eye Health Facilities Kick Start Primary Eye Care Services
Health Districts implementing the Inclusive Eye Care (IEH) project have expressed gratitude to the IEH project team and the funding partner CBM for introducing primary eye care in their health facilities and building capacities of some health staff on primary eye care and COVID-19 prevention as well as providing eye equipment and COVID-19 prevention kits to the health facilities. Sali Beatrice, primary eye care nurse in Nkambe District Hospital says, thanks to the capacity building and materials provided by the project, the population of Nkambe is happy to, henceforth, receive quality primary eye care.
Sali Beatrice was speaking during a one-day workshop organized by the IEH Project recently at the Baptist Center Nkwen Bamenda, bringing together clinicians and data clerks from partner health facilities. The workshop aimed at enhancing and re-evaluating quality data collection, reporting, and records-keeping mechanisms within the framework of the project.
The workshop offered an opportunity for experience sharing, after receiving training and starting up primary eye care in their facilities. Some of the exciting stories related to prevention of eye diseases in the community because of early interventions from the trained staff. Even though many of the participants are providing eye care, some of them expressed the need for continuous capacity building, provision of eye consumables and equipment to enable them better provide quality eye services. They noted that because of the training, they have been intentional in identifying persons with disabilities by making their services inclusive and adapting to their needs.
The Project Officer of IEH, Rev. Ekwo Emmanuel drilled the participants on how to collect data that reflect the work in order to improve on data collection and reporting as expected.
For his part, the Coordinator of the IEH Project, Mr. Tamon James lauded the participants for the work they are doing in their communities, thanks to the capacity building received. He emphasized the inclusive approach of the IEH that focuses on ensuring the COVID-19 preventive measures and quality reporting of activities. He tasked participants to be intentional in capturing data on persons with disability in all their interventions.
The Inclusive Eye Care Project implements its activities, thanks to support from CBM.