By Ngalame Elias
The Magrebi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute, a world class standard hospital in Yaoundé has made great strides with very impressive results in its health services offer.
From 29th March 2017 to 29th August 2024, the specialised reference establishment for eye treatment, Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI), led by Dr Henry Nkumbe, Director General, reports that in seven years of operation in Cameroon, they have conducted 400,000 consultations
Congratulations to Magrabi ICO Cameroon (MICEI), to Dr Henry Nkumbe and his entire staff for this unprecedented achievement. This includes over 73,000 consultations provided free of charge in the community and more than 24,000 eye surgeries, all within seven years. These remarkable accomplishments testify to their dedication and commitment to the eye health of Cameroonians.
The figures from Magrabi ICO Cameroon are impressive, contributing significantly to the national fight against preventable blindness in Cameroon.
Marie, 72 years old, has regained her smile thanks to cataract surgery.
“I can finally see the faces of my grandchildren,” she confides.
This exceptional performance places MICEI among the leading reference hospitals in Africa. From 29th March 2017 to 29th August 2024, the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute celebrates its seven years of existence.
Less than 20% of Cameroonians with vision problems, regardless of the issue, seek consultation from professionals in this hospital the officials say.
” This indicates that 80% of Cameroonians do not have access to care, and the need is truly enormous, with many people only seeking assistance when their condition has reached a critical stage, often leaving us unable to find solutions,” explains Dr Henry Nkumbe, Director General of the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI).
To reverse this negative trend, the Director General, in preparation for the commemoration of World Sight Day and its important statistics, is multiplying efforts to ensure that everyone, in this back-to-school period, can benefit from their services by offering comprehensive quality care that meets international standards at the hospital.
This specialized hospital is located in Obak, in the Lekié division of the Centre Region, and within the community. As a centre of subspecialties, MICEI has departments such as retina, cataract, glaucoma, uveitis, oculoplastics, paediatric ophthalmology, and many others.
Most ophthalmologists and optometrists work in urban areas, while ophthalmic auxiliary staff tend to move away from capitals to settle in smaller towns. Here too, Magrabi ICO Cameroon takes on rich symbolic significance, blending universal dimensions with specifics in the medical context and the history of the hospital.
Training is available for eye health specialists, ranging from subspecialty surgeons to nurses and ophthalmic equipment maintenance personnel.