Over the past 10 months, the 3 Community Vision Centres established by the Caribbean Council for the Blind & Visually Impaired, in collaboration with the Government and people of Antigua & Barbuda, has provided a basic package of eye health services to more than 7 thousand patients. The results include:
…469 indicating possible Cataracts
… 576 cases of suspected Glaucoma
…96 indicating possible Diabetic Retinopathy and
… 1,792 spectacles dispensed
With 469 cases of suspected cataracts, and given that one cataract surgery costs approximately 5 thousand EC$ dollars, there is an urgent need for a programme to help those who are unable to pay to access surgical intervention. If not, persons will continue to go needlessly blind from the condition.
During normal clinic operations, the 4 Refractionists see an average of 8 hundred persons per month, not including repeat visits.
Refractionists are trained to serve at level 2 of the World Council of Optometry, 4-level scope of practice. They provide a basic package of eye health services including: Measurement and correction of refractive errors; Prescribing eye glasses; Screening for eye diseases and encouraging persons indicating conditions which could lead to blindness, to see an Ophthalmologists.
The overwhelming demand for the services provided by the Vision Centres is ample evidence that many persons in Antigua & Barbuda, are unable to afford eye care services provided on a commercial basis. With that in mind and subject to approval by the Government; we are prepared to expand services to: Cedar Grove; All Saints; the Villa-Point-Gambles-York’s areas; Barbuda and any other locations recommended by the Government.
Currently, vision centres are located in health centres at: Claire Hall; Grays Farm and Johnsons Point.
With the proposed expansion of the service, we are preparing to facilitate increased access by all public sector employees including: Our Nation’s Teachers, Nurses, Police and Defence Force personnel.
The Vision Centres are part of Vision 2020 “The Right to Sight” a global initiative (launched by WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness) to eliminate avoidable blindness as a public health and development challenge. CCB-Eye Care Caribbean represents the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness in the region.
This is a Right to Sight initiative by The Caribbean Council for the Blind & Visually Impaired, in association with the Government and People of our country.
“PREVENTING BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT; WHILE RESTORING SIGHT AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WHOSE SIGHT CANNOT BE RESTORED”