2. Significant changes to project plans or programme development:
2.1 Caribbean:
· The prevailing economic situation and reduced funding has restricted some activities initially scheduled for the 2009 Biennial General Meeting of CCB. Additionally, Members Agencies have had to reduce the number of delegates or defer participation, due to the high cost of regional air travel.
3. Highlights from selected projects:
3.1 CCB Secretariat:
· Hosted visit of Sightsavers Officers, Philip Hand, Program Manager for the Caribbean, and Adam Heeley, Manager of Business Performance, from April 14th – 16th, for discussions re: introduction and application of CAT and FAT Tool-kits; followed by a meeting with an extended group, including Representatives from CCB, Eye Care Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica and St. Lucia, to work on development of full Proposal for submission to the EU.
· The newly recruited Program Officer continues to be involved in an Orientation Program, designed to provide insights and experience of CCB‘s Regional Programs.
· Planning has reached an advanced stage re: hosting of 2009 Biennial General Meeting and Related Activities, scheduled for July 28th – August 1st, at the Marriott Resort in St. Kitts. About forty (40) Delegates from CCB Member Agencies are expected to attend and participate in the deliberations and Elections of Officers for the period 2009 to 2011.
· CCB’s new Logo has been finalized and will be introduced following approval by the Executive Committee and the BGM.
3.2 Guyana:
· Dr. Rameeza McDonald, who is pursuing studies in Ophthalmology in Paraguay, on a CCB Scholarship, has reportedly commenced her clinical of studies, after completing her Language Course.
· Hosted visit of Adam Heeley of Sightsavers International, from April 20th – 23rd. He, together with CCB’s Treasurer, Londel Benjamin, assisted in:
o introducing QuickBooks Accounting System;
o starting the process of data entry of financial records for 2005 onwards, for completion by staff of Eye Care Guyana (ECG);
o reviewing controls and reporting around income generated by ECG;
o examining financial management and monitoring systems for income and expenditure in Guyana;
o introducing FAT and consider implications for the overall CCB Financial Assessment.
· In an effort to advance programs for the education of children with visual impairment, a team from CCB and Eye Care Guyana met with the officials of the Ministry of Education (MoE), including the Deputy Chief Education Officer and Principal of Cyril Potter College of Education (the Teacher Training Institution), on May 11th. Exploratory discussions covered: proposed implementation of National Program (by MoE in partnership with CCB/Eye Care Guyana), to include: establishment of new Resource Units, training of Teachers (eventually leading to the development of a full Degree Program at the University of Guyana), and hosting of a Planning Symposium, to lay the foundation for the partnership.
· Trainees from the Course in Refractive Techniques have completed the Theoretical Phase of the 3rd cohort of training and are currently engaged in the Practicum Phase, which requires five (5) months of supervised practice in an Eye Clinic or Vision Center; five of the Trainees are from Guyana, and one from Jamaica (Mandeville Hospital).
· The continuing efforts to increase the pool of skilled personnel in Eye Health have resulted in the Academic Board of the University of Guyana approving, in principle, accreditation of the Course, Certificate in Refraction Techniques; while that for the Bachelors Degree in Optometry, still under consideration.
· Final preparations are underway for the hosting of Regional Blind Cricket Tournament in Guyana from July 19th to 24th. The participating teams include: 2008 Champions (joint) Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago; Barbados and Guyana. The Windward Islands is unable to participate due to financial difficulties. A fundraising ‘Celebrity Match’ has been included in the Tournament.
· Two Optometrists (Australia and Canada) have expressed interest in volunteering for shorts stints in Guyana in July and September. Eye Care Guyana is finalizing arrangements for their assignment, in order to take full advantage of their services.
3.3 Haiti: