April 2006 saw the conclusion of the second 24
part radio ‘soap opera’ which reached around 70% of the rural
population via wind-up radio distribution. As a result many people
are now asking how and what they could do to have cataract surgery.
The OUTREACH is an effort to bridge the gap with the rural
population who have no ophthalmic service within reasonable
distance. Transport cost to get them to the nearest city are too
high. Often these distances are over 200Km.
This pilot program began in May 2006 in
Tsiroanomandidy, at 200k from the capital Antananarivo. It will
continue in Marovay, some 150k from Mahajanga and also in Moramanga
180k from Antananarivo. Training of personnel at the community level
and at the local hospital will be mainly for the screening of
cataracts. The doctor and paramedic will receive further training in
Antananarivo, to be able to assist during surgery and conduct post
operative clinics. Every three months or so, a mission group from
Antananarivo, an ophthalmologist and a paramedic, will travel and
stay for a week, to operate, to do the first post-operative clinic
and to also do also general consultations.
The total cost of each mission is £1,600 which
pays for personnel, transport, lodging, food and consumables as well
as around 30 Cataract operations.
We are fortunate to have received funding of
£10,000 for each of three years from the Batchworth Trust to fund
this programme.
