Abstract

SA.22.08

The Congolese National plan for eye health and vision

Makwanga E., Kayembe D., Kilangalanga J., Hopkins A. D.
Centre de Formation Ophtalmologique d'Afrique Centrale (CFOAC), Kinshasa

The National Plan Eye Health and Vision (Vision 2020) was prepared during the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and signed during a period of a cease fire and a transitional government. A democratic government was installed only in December 2006. Eye care was available to only about 1/10 of the population of the DRC mostly in Kinshasa where there was a concentration of human resources and (mostly poor) infrastructure. During the war a training centre was set up for mid level personnel in Kinshasa, which trains Ophthalmology Clinical Officers and non ophthalmologist Cataract Surgeons. Due to having some of these extra human resources available during this transitional phase, new eye care centres have been opened up in the interior of the country and others made much more functional. Community based personnel have also been trained and have been effective in identifying and referring eye patients. Results have shown a considerable improvement of the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR) and geographical coverage during the last two years in spite of relatively little investment. Further developments with a new training / service hospital in the Masina district of Kinshasa should help considerably in improving the CSR in the capital, with equally developments in the interior.

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