Optometry Giving Sight

Mr Eliabu Mbuguma, a qualified optometrist in Tanzania, is no stranger to facing adversity and challenges. His dedication to serving his community is evident in his commitment to remain in a profession where everyday challenges include few skilled professionals, poor working conditions, lack of equipment, limited support in the sector and little, if any, awareness in the community.

Now that Optometry Giving Sight has co-funded the establishment of a Vision Centre in the Bariadi District Hospital, the future is much brighter, not only for Mr Mbuguma, but for the population of 800,000 people that it now serves. The new Centre, where he is now the Manager, boasts a fully equipped eye clinic with all the tools necessary to deliver full eye care services from initial eye screening to the dispensing of spectacles.

“I feel very comfortable working here,” said Mr Mbuguma. “With the training I have received to increase my knowledge I am now more confident in delivering a comprehensive eye care service to the patients that visit this clinic.”

One of the key achievements of the Centre has been the delivery of community health promotion, generating awareness on how people should care for their eyes, and when and where to seek treatment if they are experiencing any problems. This has helped educate people about the availability of local eye care facilities at the Vision Centre, which now boasts a flow of around 4,000 patients a year.

“The community is grateful that they can now access eye care services within their district at reasonable prices,” said Mr Mbuguma. “Since this centre opened we have seen an abrupt increase in the number of patients who come to have their eyes examined.”

In recognition of his efforts, Mr Mbuguma is now the first optometrist to be appointed to the Hospital Board.

Optometrist Dr. Moes Nasser has been following the progress at Bariadi closely, making several visits to the Vision Centre during its establishment. It has a special meaning for him, being close to the village where he grew up. He described how the achievements at Bariadi are providing inspiration for the development of three other Centres in Tanzania.

“It is wonderful to see that the process is in place to expand these services not only to a few people, but to many in the region. The staff are very excited because they have seen the progress being made in the Bariadi Centre. They are all so supportive and willing to work hard to expand the services in the region,” he said.

Top photo: Mr Mbuguma outside the Vision Centre, courtesy of ICEE
Photo above right: Dr Nasser with schoolchildren in Tanzania