More Than 2,300 Cataract Surgeries With Cameroon Cataract Bond
Thursday, June 13, 2019
The Cameroon Cataract Bond, launched in 2018 as a new way of funding health care by bringing together public and private investors, health donors and eye care delivery experts, has completed the first year, screening more than 50,000 patients and completing more than 2,300 cataract surgeries in Cameroon
It is a pay-for-performance loan (also known as a development impact bond or DIB) which is supporting the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI) to provide as many as 18,000 cataract surgeries in Cameroon over five years. The loan means that low-income patients can receive sight-saving surgery for free or at a subsidised fee. The fund will also help the hospital to become self-sufficient in five years.
In its first year, the hospital conducted 103 outreach camps screening 11,284 patients and screened a further 42,899 patients in the hospital.
Staff throughout the hospital received training and mentoring from the Magrabi Hospital Group and Aravind Eye Care System. Two ophthalmologists completed Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery training and nurses received refraction training. Training will continue throughout the project to expand the capacity to deliver eye care services in Cameroon.
Photo courtesy of Carsten ten Brink.
Source: African Review (link opens in a new window)
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