The placement of Vision Centers at the four locations is the start of a longterm partnership between the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda and CCB-Eye Care Caribbean.
The Centers are designed to give every person in Antigua and Barbuda, access to Eye Health services on demand.
In order to help persons who are unable to afford commercially available spectacles, CCB-Eye Care Caribbean is committed to supplying them with affordable, accessible and readily available (quality) prescription glasses and low vision appliances.
CCB has determined that, to qualify, beneficiaries must either be:
- 60 years or older
- A student
- Living with a disability
- Earning EC$ 3,000 per month or less
- Referred to the service by: A Member of Parliament, Minister of Religion or a serving Permanent Secretary
To date, CCB-Eye Care Caribbean has financed the training and deployment of more than 30 Refractionists in: St. Lucia, Jamaica and Guyana.
By the end of September, four Refractionists will return to Antigua and Barbuda to take up duties in Government Health Centers after completing a programme of studies in Refraction Techniques at the University of Guyana. They will receive technical supervision from Dr Genalin Ang of the University of Guyana and other Optometrists in the employ of CCB-EyeCare Caribbean.
In addition to refurbishing the areas (in the 4 health facilities) to be used as Vision Centers, CCB-Eye Care Caribbean is in the process of acquiring the instruments and equipment required by the Refractionists to carry out the examination for those conditions.
It is hoped that Ophthalmologists and Optometrists currently practicing in Antigua and Barbuda will be able to handle the dramatic increase in referrals to be generated by the four Refractionists who will start practicing here in the fourth quarter.
Grays Farm Health Center
Where referred patients are unable to afford private fees, CCB-Eye Care Caribbean proposes to work with the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre to help such patients access more affordable medical and or surgical interventions.
As part of its commitment to the global initiative, Vision 2020 “The Right To Sight” CCB-Eye Care Caribbean is institutionally committed to ensuring that all persons, living in Antigua & Barbuda, have access (on demand) to basic eyehealth services, including prescription glasses, as well as medical and surgical interventions.
Arvel Grant, C.Sw, B.Sc-Sw(Hons) DPA, MPH
Our Purpose: “Preventing blindness and visual impairment; while restoring sight and creating opportunities for persons whose sight cannot be restored.”
Contact : info@eyecarecaribbean.com