During the year under review, CCB/Eye Care Caribbean, with the support of its Members and Partners, continued to execute its mandate, and several activities were implemented. The following are some of the highlights.
CCB Project Management Committee
The Project Management Committee, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the EC Project, “Delivering Vision 2020 in the Caribbean” held its face-to-face meeting during January 23rd and 24th, 2012 at the City View Hotel, in Antigua and Barbuda.
The meeting was attended by Representatives from the Project countries: Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia and the CCB Secretariat (Antigua). The EU Programme Officer, Pauline Lucas-Cummings, with responsibility for the Project, and based at the EU Office in Guyana, participated as an Observer.
The Representative from Haiti was unable to attend due to problems encountered with travel.
During the course of the year, the PMC held three other meetings using the Ventrilo VoIP Platform, which allowed Representatives of Project Countries to participate from their respective offices.
The Meetings undertook critical reviews of the project activities, achievements, and challenges; and sought clarification on several issues. The Committee also confirmed planned activities and related budgets for 2012.
Development of Comprehensive Eye Care Services in Antigua and Barbuda.
In its efforts to facilitate comprehensive and affordable eye care services for the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, the CCB/Eye Care Caribbean, with the support of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, continued work on several initiatives.
• Refurbishment of Health Centres for the location of Vision Centres
Refurbishment of the facilities for the Vision Centres at Johnson’s Point, Gray’s Farm and Clare Hall is well advanced. Additionally, all furnishings to provide for the comfort of both staff and clients are being supplied. It is anticipated that the Centres will be ready for commissioning during the first quarter of 2013.
•Procurement of Equipment for the Vision Centres
Diagnostic equipment for the Vision Centres have been procured and Council’s Maintenance Manager is scheduled to install, configure and test the Diagnostic Equipment during January.
•Return of Scholarship Awardees trained in Refraction Techniques
The four (4) students – Denise Philip, Dirk Agard, Raenor Sharpe and Ronel Richards – who were granted scholarships by CCB/Eye Care Caribbean , in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, returned home after successfully completing their training in Refraction Techniques, at the University of Guyana.
The Refractionists will be assigned to the Vision Centres in Johnson’s Point, Gray’s Farm, Clare Hall, and, subsequently, Barbuda, following commissioning. In the interim, they have been engaged in a series of preparatory activities.
Several activities were held in observance of World Sight Day (WSD), October 13th, in member countries across the region – Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti and St. Lucia.
Activities included: Panel Discussions and Talk Shows on Radio and Television, articles in the Print Media and participation in Health Fairs.
In Antigua and Barbuda, the Secretariat distributed a Press Release urging Regional Governments to “include Eye Care Services in Public Health Systems”.
Read more at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com/regionalgovernments-urged-to-include-eye-care-services-in-publichealth-system
Caribbean Vision 2020 Meeting (2012)
The 2012 Caribbean V2020 Meeting was convened, with the full and effective participation of Health Officials and Civil Society from eleven (11) member-countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana.
The two-day deliberations, December 11th & 12th, 2012, were facilitated by Dr. Juan Carlos Silva (PAHO/WHO), Philip Hand (Sightsavers) and Charles Vandyke (Eye Care Guyana).
Using a standardised template (developed for the collection of Vision 2020-related Health Information for the Caribbean), the Delegates provided comprehensive updates on the state of Eye Health Services in the respective countries and pledged to continue the process of gathering information to support future Regional Vision 2020 Meetings. There were also important presentations from Dr. Shailendra Sugrim (Glaucoma Specialist – Guyana), Dr. Dawn Grosvenor (Glaucoma Specialist – Barbados), Dr. Norman Waldron (Researcher – Jamaica) and Dr. Louis Pizzarello (Chairman of the North American Region of IAPB).
See photos and highlights at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com/photo-gallery/vision2020-meeting; www.eyecarecaribbean.com/our-work-in-thecaribbean/highlights-of-vision-2020-conference
Development of CCB/Eye Care Caribbean Website
The development of the website has advanced and efforts are ongoing to ensure that its content is regularly refreshed with new materials.
•Format/Design
The design reflects CCB/Eye Care Caribbean Logo and maps of member territories; while the Main Menu includes links to: About CCB, Our Work in the Caribbean, Publications, Governance, Research and Evidence, Notable Accomplishments, Partnerships and Donate Now (Donation Button).
•Content
The content includes articles, stories, photos, videos, reports and other features of our work around the region. Every effort is being made to ensure that materials from all of the countries in which we work are included.
During 2012, the Quarterly Electronic Newsletter, “Eye on Sight”, was published, as scheduled. Additionally, Bulletins were posted to mark significant International Observances, such as Glaucoma Awareness Day and World Environment Day. It is intended that publications (bulletins, articles, etc) to mark other significant events including:
International Women’s Day, World Health Day, Regional Blindness Awareness Month/Day, will be undertaken. View Publications at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com/publications
•Photo Gallery
Photos relating to Council’s Programs, Events and from Member Agencies (around the region) have been uploaded to the Photo Gallery on the Website, to Face book and YouTube. There are currently 64 albums in the Gallery. These may be viewed at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com/photogallery
•Human Interest Stories
Several human interest stories from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, are currently available. Materials from other Members and Partners will be added over time.
•Research Findings (Evidence)
Finding from various researches and studies have been added to the website, and others will be posted as they become available. Additionally, the findings of other studies pertinent to eye health, prevention of blindness, social inclusion and disability will also be included (with the permission of the authors). See reports :www.eyecarecaribbean.com/research-and-evidence
•Governance
Relevant extracts for CCB Constitution are now available on the site and efforts will continue to ensure that Members and Partners have access to information on governance. See extracts at:www.eyecarecaribbean.com/governance
•Videos/Documentaries
A variety of programme activities in several countries are now available in video. Currently, there are 59 videos/documentaries on the website and these may be viewed at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com
•Configuration for Donation
The configuration for donation has undergone as series of tests and is working satisfactorily. It is anticipated that members and supporters will be invited to make small donations in an effort to further assess the effectiveness of this feature. View website at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com or www.ccb1967.com
Mandeville Regional Hospital Development Programme
The development of Operating Theatres and a Spectacle Laboratory at the Mandeville Regional Hospital is nearing completion. It is anticipated that the minor works which remain will be completed during the first quarter, allowing for the installation, configuration and testing of the equipment which have been procured.
With the commissioning of the additional theatre space, the Southern Regional Health Authority in Jamaica will move from just under 500 cataract surgeries per year (based on four (4) to six (6) hours of theatre time each week) to approximately 2000 cataract surgeries each year, in a population of 612,000 residents.
Human Resource Development – Scholarships (Ophthalmology, Optometry and Refraction Techniques)
The EC Project entitled, “Delivering Vision 2020 in the Caribbean,” with the objective to reduce the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment among rural and poor populations, aims to train Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Refractionists, and Primary Health Care Workers in an effort to increase the number of health professionals in the region.
Currently, eleven (11) Medical Doctors are undergoing training in Ophthalmology in Residency Programmes in Latin America and Haiti.
The Doctors come from Guyana (2), Jamaica (1) and Haiti (7). These Programmes were chosen due to their emphasis on Community Health.
Dr. McDonald returned to Guyana after successfully completing a three-year Course in Community Ophthalmology in Paraguay. She is due to take up her position at the Linden Regional Hospital (Region #10), but is currently receiving some orientation at the GPHC.
Sixteen (16) students are currently in the Optometry Degree Program at the University of Guyana – nine (9) students are in their third year of the Scholarship Program, while seven are in their first year.
In relation to the one-year Course in Refraction Techniques, also tenable at the University of Guyana, of those students provided with scholarships, eight (8) have completed the Course and have been deployed in their respective countries, including four from Antigua and Barbuda.
Additionally, during the year, Sensitisation Workshops were held for Primary Health Care Workers (607) and Low Vision Counsellors (88) in the Project Countries (Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti and St. Lucia); and four (4) Spectacles Lab Technicians received refresher training on new lab equipment.
Organisational Development (Member Agencies)
•Support to Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB) in developing National Strategic Framework for Blindness Services:
The JSB’s efforts to develop a National Strategic Framework for Blindness Services received support for the hosting of a Planning Workshop in July 6th & 7th in Kingston, Jamaica.
Members of the Board of JSB and General Membership participated in the Workshop which was facilitated by Council’s Project Development Manager. A revised draft of the National Framework has since been forwarded to JSB for consideration at its upcoming AGM.
•Administration of CAT in: Guyana, Haiti and St. Lucia
In an effort to assess organisational capacity and identify priorities for the organisational development of Member Agencies, the Capacity Assessment Tool (CAT) was administered to the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) – June 18th & 19th; Eye Care Guyana – June 21st & 22nd ; and SHAA (Haiti) – October 8th – 12th. Council’s Project Development Manager, with the assistance of Sightsavers Caribbean Programme Manager administered the CAT in St. Lucia and Guyana, while a Consultant was engaged for Haiti.
The findings will be used to identify priorities for organisational development. It is anticipated that the CAT will be administered to other Member Agencies, in due course.
•Administration of Financial Assessment Tool (FAT)
In an effort to assess the organisation’s financial capacity and identify priorities for organisational development, the Financial Assessment Tool (FAT) was administered, in part, to the Accounts Technician at SHAA during February 22nd/23rd, by CCB’s Accounting and IT Officer, Mauricia Browne.
Time constraints and the unavailability of management personnel, militated against the completion of the exercise. It is intended the complete Tool will be administered to the relevant persons during a subsequent visit.
•Efforts are ongoing to provide the Bahamas Alliance for the Visually Impaired (BABVI) with some technical support to expand its fund development strategy. This will enable the Alliance to consolidate and pursue additional funding opportunities.