Although less than 20% of Cameroonians with vision problems seek consultation from a professional, the specialized reference establishment for eye treatment, Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI), has attained the feat of 400000 consultations within seven years of operation.
This includes over 73,000 consultations provided free of charge in the community and more than 24,000 eye surgeries.
The record-breaking achievement was announced on 29th August 2024 on the occasion of the celebration of MICEI’s seventh anniversary. MICEI set shop in Cameroon on 29th March 2017.
These remarkable accomplishments testify to the dedication and commitment of Dr Henry Nkumbe, Director General of MICEI, and staff to the eye health of Cameroonians. The figures from Magrabi ICO Cameroon are impressive, contributing significantly to the national fight against preventable blindness in Cameroon.
“Marie, 72 years old, has regained her smile thanks to cataract surgery.” “I can finally see the faces of my grandchildren,” she confides. This exceptional performance places MICEI among the leading reference hospitals in Africa.
But Dr Henry Nkumbe and his staff are not lying on their laurels after attaining that milestone achievement. They are rather galvanised by the rave reviews they received to do even mre.
In preparation for the commemoration of World Sight Day and its important statistics, MICEI’s Director General is multiplying efforts to ensure that everyone, in this back-to-school period can benefit from their services by offering comprehensive quality care that meets international standards at the hospital he directs, located in Obak, in the Lekié Division of the Centre Region, and within the community.
As a centre of subspecialties, MICEI has departments such as retina, cataract, glaucoma, uveitis, oculoplastics, paediatric ophthalmology, and many others.
Most ophthalmologists and optometrists work in urban areas, while ophthalmic auxiliary staff tend to move away from capitals to settle in smaller towns. Here too, Magrabi ICO Cameroon takes on rich symbolic significance, blending universal dimensions with specifics in the medical context and the history of the hospital. Training is available for eye health specialists, ranging from subspecialty surgeons to nurses and ophthalmic equipment maintenance personnel.
During health outreaches, Cameroonians are sensitised on the need to seek assistance and not wait until their condition has reached a critical stage.
” Less than 20% of Cameroonians with vision problems, regardless of the issue, seek consultation from a professional,” regrets Dr Nkumbe.This indicates that 80% of Cameroonians do not have access to care, and the need is truly enormous, with many people only seeking assistance when their condition has reached a critical stage, often leaving us unable to find solutions,” he explains.
