Humanitært arbeid i Kamerun 2009

Abstract

This was the first time optometry students from Buskerud University College participated in a project in Cameroon. The goal of the project was to make an assessment of needs at the eye department. We got an idea of the present situation and which requirements that can make the work more efficient. During our work we discovered that the staff wanted an introduction to the most common eye pathologies, and we noticed that knowledge about health among the population was low. Because of that we composed information posters, both for the ophthalmic nurses and for the patients. At the hospital we did refractions, participated on outreach camps and school screenings. We also taught refraction techniques to Margaret Bengha from the organisation RECEWAPEC. For the next year’s students we have some ideas about how the project should be planned and performed. We think the eye department is well run and efficient with the available resources.