Since their inception six months ago, the 3 community vision centres, staffed by 4 Refractionists (which are being implemented under a joint partnership between the Government of Antigua-Barbuda and CCB-Eye Care Caribbean) have examined over 7,000 patients and prescribed over 3,000 spectacles to those requiring visual-aid.
Chief Executive Officer, Arvel Grant, expects that the programme will continue to grow, noting that expansion plans includes the setting up of six new Vision centres across Antigua & Barbuda. He said those students and elderly who required further attention and could not afford the cost of their glasses, received their spectacles free.
PLANS FOR EXPANSION
In anticipation of a significant increase in the numbers of persons being referred for medical and surgical services; CCB-Eye Care Caribbean has offered the Government Of Antigua-Barbuda, up to 3 scholarships for Medical Drs to be trained as Ophthalmologists. The organization will be adding Optometrists to the service in Antigua shortly.
There are currently three community vision centres located in Grays Farm, Clare Hall and Johnsons Point, where more than 9,000 appointments have been booked, since they were opened in December of 2013.
THE NATURE OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CCB-EYE CARE CARIBBEAN & THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF ANTIGUA-BARBUDA
“The “Right To Sight” partnership between the Government and People of Antigua & Barbuda and CCB-Eye Care Caribbean, will lead to the placement of Refractionists in up to nine major health centres including in All Saints, Cedar Grove, Villa Area and the Hannah Thomas Hospital in Barbuda,” the CEO said. Grant noted that “The national Vision centre (being established at the former Blackburn Ward, on the Holberton premises) will provide coordination and support services to the network of community vision centres”.
“The programme is expected to be self sustaining and should begin to achieve equilibrium between income and expenditure within five years, subject to future recurrent and expansion costs,” Grant added. The CEO of CCB-Eye Care Caribbean noted that “under the programme, Government provides physical space, staffing and support services, while CCB-Eye Care Caribbean retrofits the space, provides scholarships, equips the Vision Centres and provides all recurrent supplies and equipment maintenance services”.
WHAT DO REFRACTIONISTS DO
Refractionists provide eye health services described at level one of the global scope of practice approved by the World Council of Optometry. They are trained to screen for eye diseases, undertake eye health education, refer patients indicating conditions which may require, medical and or surgical interventions; perform refractive services, and prescribe-fit spectacles and low vision appliances.
Refractionists do not perform invasive diagnostic, prescriptive or dispensing services. As such, their work poses no: Pharmacological, medical or surgical risks to their patients.
WHERE DO REFRACTIONISTS WORK IN THE CARIBBEAN
Antigua & Barbuda is the sixth member of Caricom to include Refractionists in its eye health programme. In addition to Antigua & Barbuda, Refractionists are working in the public health services in: The Commonwealth Of Dominica; The Republic Of Guyana; Jamaica; St. Lucia and The Republic Of Suriname.
View a short video about the work of the Refractionists in Antigua & Barbuda below: