Bibich N. Maloba
7 December 2005
Cataract patients are received on a daily basis for free eye check-ups, and surgeries.
Ateam of two medical ophthalmologists are in Cameroon since yesterday to perform eye surgeries. Each year, since the year 2000, Israel through its ambassador to Cameroon, launches the eye campaign in a given health center. The exercise, the fifth of its kind, was launched during his first and second visits to the Laquintiny Hospital in Douala. From 2003 till date, the beneficiaries have been patients at the Central Hospital in Yaounde.
Dr Eedy Metzer and Rina Leibo from the RAMBAM University Hospital Center in Israel, will be in the country for two weeks. During this period, patients suffering from eye problems will have free surgeries and check-ups. An ordinary eye surgery is carried out at FCFA 100,000.
This year, cataract patients have been selected from the outskirts of Yaounde. Speaking at the official opening of the fifth edition of the eye camp, the General Manager of the Central Hospital, Pr Magloire Biwole Sida, announced that contrary to the previous years, not only patients situated in Yaounde will benefit of the treatment. He said, a total of 160 patients will be received.
The criteria of selection he explained, is based on both social and medical aspects. Through this, only families and persons who are not financially viable and who are deeply affected by the cataract will be taken care of. This constitutes persons of the third age group, that is, from 60 years and above. The two specialists will be assisted in the surgeries by ophtalmologists of the Yaounde Central Hospital.
Cataract occurs when eye lenses become cloudy. So far, there is no proven way to prevent cataracts. However, certain lifestyles may help slow cataract development.
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