600 thousand people at risk of blindness in Cameroon

The Cameroon Society of Ophthalmology (CSO) describes eye diseases as a public health problem in Cameroon, with just few specialists to carter for the numerous diagnosed cases.

Besides, not all Regions do enjoy the services of the 76 ophthalmologists found in Cameroon. In addition, must patient lack the necessary financial capacity to afford the scarcity and expensive eye care service.

Most people in high risk zones or affected by eye infections resort to traditional healing or preventive techniques which generally doesn’t solve the problem.

The desire to raise awareness and revert the situation was at the center of discussions during the 21st Congress of the Cameroon Society of Ophthalmology (CSO) in Yaounde. The eye specialists revealed that 150,000 people in Cameroon are blind and 600,000 stand at a high risk of blindness.

Their statistics also show that between January and September 2013, the Yaounde Central Hospital received 4,330 patients in ophthalmologic consultation including 374 cases of surgery. It has also been revealed that onchocerciasis has widely spread in 110 out of 184 health districts, with over 5 million people infected and 10 million people at risk. Moreover, 70 to 80% of blindness from cataract, onchocerciasis, and glaucoma is preventable or curable.

Despite all the short-comings, envisaged in this domain, there is hope for victims of ophthalmological problems as plans to create an International eye care Centre are underway in the Obak, and Okola localities of the Centre Region.

Campaigns to fight against blindness and medical aid to people who cannot afford enough means to support themselves shall also be organized by the State.