In the January 2013 Issue of EyeonSight we feature the following:
Making a difference for Linden’s Children who are Visually Impaired
On a rainy December morning we made our way to Linden located sixty-five miles to the south of Capital of Georgetown, Guyana. It was here that we found Shellon Swaving who heads the Unit for the Visually Impaired at the Wismar Hill Primary School.
Surrounded by students, she was all too eager to share with us her passion for teaching and in particular her love for students who are blind and visually impaired. From an early age Shellon had two goals in life, that of being a teacher and the other of assisting the visually impaired in any way possible.
From the Desk of the CEO- Arvel Grant [January 2013]
Continuing the push towards a Caribbean fully compliant with the objectives of Vision 2020 (The Right to Sight)
- Refurbishing of vision centres in Antigua & Barbuda more than 80% complete.
As a lead up to the launch of vision centres in Grays Farm,Johnson’s Point and Clare Hall, CCB/Eye Care Caribbean is collaborating with the Government of Antigua & Barbuda, to implement simultaneous one month Eye Clinics for clients and employees of: The Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital and the Fiennes Residence for the Elderly.
Read More: http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com/site/ecc/eye-on-sight/from-the-desk-of-the-ceo-arvel-grant-january-2013#refurbishing
- JAMAICA – Mandeville – Ophthalmology Operating Theatre to be Commissioned by April
Excluding some mechanical and electrical installations, the suit of Operating Theatres is ready to receive the specialized equipment which will convert a mere building into a place where thousands of Jamaicans will have their sight restored.
- New Eye Departments in Guyana, Haiti and Jamaica
Over the past months, CCB/Eye Care Caribbean’s Regional Maintenance Manager, Henry Latty has been busy visiting the emerging facilities, installing, calibrating and testing the new systems.
Read More: http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com/site/ecc/eye-on-sight/from-the-desk-of-the-ceo-arvel-grant-january-2013#neweyedepartments
- Medical Doctors getting closer to their goal of becoming Ophthalmologists
St. Lucia’s candidate (now in her final year in the Dominican Republic) will be returning home this year. One of seven Medical Doctors currently in training as Ophthalmologists, at the University of Haiti, will also complete his training this year.
- Guyana moves closer to the launch of its Vision 2020 Strategic Frame Work
Under the leadership of Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, Chairman of the Vision 2020 Committee in that country, the draft document is now ready for consideration and promulgation by the Ministry of Health and Government of Guyana
- The Caribbean Vision 2020 Meeting for 2012
The Guyana Pegasus Hotel, welcomed almost 40 delegates to the third Annual Meeting. A range of topics pertinent to the evolution of regional health care were discussed and proposed actions highlighted. The next regional meeting is tentatively set for the Jamaica Pegasus, in the first week of December 2013.
Read More: http://eyecarecaribbean.com/our-work-in-the-caribbean/highlights-from-vision-2020-conference
Programme Highlights 2012
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.
Read More: http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com/site/ecc/eye-on-sight/programme-highlights-2012#project-mgmt-committee
- 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.
These included refurbishment of Health Centres for the location of Vision Centres, Procurement of equipment for the Vision Centres and the return of scholarship awardees trained in Refraction Techniques.
Read More: http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com/site/ecc/eye-on-sight/programme-highlights-2012#eye-services-antigua
- World Sight Day 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.
- 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).
- 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.
Read More: http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com/site/ecc/eye-on-sight/programme-highlights-2012#website
- 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.
Read More: http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com/site/ecc/eye-on-sight/programme-highlights-2012#mandeville-hospital
- 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.
Read More: http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com/site/ecc/eye-on-sight/programme-highlights-2012#hrd
- Organisational Development (Member Agencies)
This section covers the details of our support to Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB) in developing National Strategic Framework for Blindness Services, The Administration of CAT (Capacity Assessment Tool) in Guyana, Haiti and St Lucia and the administration of FAT (Financial Administration Tool).
Read More: http://www.eyecarecaribbean.com/site/ecc/eye-on-sight/programme-highlights-2012#org-support
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