Eye care professionals discuss neglected tropical diseases

Members of the Cameroonian Society of Ophthalmology began meeting in Yaounde on Thursday, February 26, 2015, in their 21st annual scientific conference under the theme, “Community eye care and neglected tropical diseases.”

Speaking at the opening, Prof. Biwole Sida, representing the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda, called on the eye care professionals not to relax in their duty of saving the sight of millions of Cameroonians.

He said ophthalmology, like any other branch of medicine, was an important part of Cameroon’s healthcare system; thus the need to give it the utmost attention and importance it deserves.

In her speech, the President of the Cameroon Society of Ophthalmology, Prof. Bella Asumpta, revisited the recent achievements of the association and appealed to members to continue to sit up professionally.

She also enjoined eye care practitioners to regularly pay up their dues to enable the association carry out planned activities.

The conference, which lasts till February 28, 2015, also saw the holding of a roundtable discussion on the topic, “Eye care mobile treatment in Cameroon.”

The Cameroonian Society of Ophthalmology is a member of the International Council of Ophthalmology, ICO that seeks to have a major impact on education and access to eye care worldwide.

It does this by collaborating with other ophthalmologic societies, eye care organisations, teaching programmes, and helping them develop effective leadership and structures. Details of yesterday’s ceremony will be discussed in the next issue.