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SITUATION ANALYSIS ON THE EYE CARE SERVICE IN ST JOSEPH’S EYE HOSPITAL MGBIRICHI OHAJI/EGBEME LGA IMO STATE OF NIGERIA
UBAKA Christiana
St Joseph’s Eye Hospital Mgbirichi, Ohaji/Egbeme, LGA Iimo State of Nigeria
Abstract The article presents the work of St. Joseph’s Eye Hospital, a young hospital in the Mgbirichi Ohaji / Egbeme LGA Imo State of Nigeria. The hospital is run by the catholic order of the Congegration of the Daughters of Mary and provides basic eye care in a rural part of Africa. The article highlights the potentials of the hospital, that also offers collaboration with neighbouring health care institutions and the limitations due to lack of personnel and the equipment for more special interventions.
Key words: eye care hospital, Nigeria, ophthalmology, Africa
Corresponding author: Christiana Ubaka, [email protected]
Introduction Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Mercy (DMMM), Ahiaeke Umua- There are several causes of blindness, hia, Abia State, Nigeria and in partnership most of which are preventable. In addition to with Christian Blind Mission International uncorrected refractive error, there are other (CBMI) Australia, a non-governmental diseases or groups of eye disorders including organization. It is located at Mgbirichi in cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, Ohaji /Egbema L.G.A of Imo State. Mgbirichi retinitis, hypertensive retinopathy, uveitis, is about 18km from the capital city of Imo and eye tumors etc. that are common. These state, Owerri. It is accessed through the have known strategies for their management Owerri- Portharcourt highway. Owerri is and elimination and only effective eye easily accessed through neighboring cities hospitals have the solutions or remedies to Umuahia, Okigwe, Aba, Onitsha, Yenagua or them. In view of the foregone and in con- Port Harcourt. By air, it is accessed via Port junction with WHO’s target of global Harcourt international airport Omagwa and initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness, Nnamdi Azikiwi airport Imo state. Vision 2020: “the right to sight”, St Joseph’s eye hospital Mgbirichi becomes a child of What do we do? necessity. Our Primary objectives are: The young hospital was actually born on To reach the underprivileged with quality the 14th of February 2008 when the founda- and affordable eye care services. tion was laid. It was officially opened on the Maximize vision through our medical and 29th of December 2009, with a free eye care, surgical treatments Enlightenment program to churches, given to over 350 patients, who were the organizations and tertiary institutes beneficiaries. The hospital is owned by the
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Regular outreach programs around our State Low vision service and beyond. Limitations to our service are: School vision screening program to primary Retinal surgeries and secondary schools Refractive surgeries These are achieved via the following ser- Paediatric surgeries vices we render: Phacoemucification Surgically: Our limitations are a result of: Small incision cataract surgery with intraoc- Lack of personnel ular lens Lack of equipment for the required surgeries Trabeculectomy Maintaining excellence in eye care service Excision of conjunctival growth with graft - is our goal. Corneal repair Statistics Lid surgeries such as chalazion, entropion Statistically, the hospital was in building repair etc. Evisceration when it is unavoidable from the year of 2008 to 2009. In 2010 the Probing and syringing of lacrimal drainage actual work began. The first figure shows system (Fig. 1.) the number of new cases, follow ups, Medically: refractive cases and our outreach clinic while Management/treatment of all kinds of eye the second (Fig. 2.) shows surgery cases. The diseases record for 2013 is from January to Novem- Optically: ber. Complete optical service
new cases follow up refractive cases outreach clinic
1200
4300
696 6000
2553
1809 4202 1611 9500 2344 634 608 4500 304 861 2060
2010 2011 2012 2013 Fig. 1. New cases in St Joseph’s Eye Hospital Ohaji/Egbeme, LGA Iimo State of Nigeria
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Fig. 2. Surgery cases in St Joseph’s Eye Hospital Mgbirichi, Ohaji/Egbeme, LGA Iimo State of Nigeria
How our work is done? Eye camp surgery centers are: Regular consultations take place from Maris eye clinic Uturu in Abia State Anglican Rehabilitation center (eye clinic monday to friday, from 8am to when the last unit) Akpodim Mbaise in Imo State patient leaves the hospital. Our working Ibem Christian Hospital Ohafia in Abia State days begin with morning devotion. Week- Ancilla hospital (eye unit) Ihitte Mbaise in ends are strictly reserved for emergencies. Imo State Outreach program has its own schedules. There are school vision screening pro- Surgery days are on tuesdays and some- grams to various private and public schools. times thursdays. Surgical outreach schedules Our past special events are usually on some thursdays. St Joseph’s eye hospital piloted the cele- Outreach programs bration of the following in Imo State: Medical outreach centers are: World Glaucoma Week 11th to 17th March St Joseph Annex Akabo in Oguta LGA Imo 2012 State World Sight Day 11th October 2012 Anglican Rehabilitation center (eye clinic World Glaucoma Week 10th to 16th March unit) Akpodim Mbaise 2013 St Mary’s Catholic clinic and maternity World Sight Day 10th October 2013 Ozoro in Delta State Our watch word- “Do what you can, with Mercy hospital and maternity Mbawsi in what you have, where you are” –Theodore Abia State Roosevelt. St Joseph Annex Anara, Imo State Our human resource personnel are: St Mary Amafieke Orlu eye center, Imo State Ophthalmologist – 1 239
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Optometrist – 5 La hospital estas prizorgata per la katolika ordeno de Ophthalmic nurse – 3 la Kongregacio de la Filinoj de Maria kaj ofertas bazajn okulkuracistajn servojn en kamparana parto de Primary eye care nurse – 1 Afriko. La artikolo prilumas la eblecojn de la Theatre nurse assistant – 1 hospitalo, kiu kunlaboras kun aliaj medicinaj Community Health Worker – 4 institucioj en la ĉirkaŭaĵo, kaj la limojn de ĝia laboro Account/Administrative staff – 4 kaŭze de manko de personalo kaj ekipaĵo por pli specialaj operacioj. Receptionist- 2 Pharmacist- 2 Contacts: Technician – 1 E-mail: contac- [email protected] Optician - 2 E-mail: [email protected] Driver – 1 E-mail: [email protected], Security – 4 Visit: Lab technician - 1 www.stjosepheyehospital.com Caterer - 3 Facebook: [email protected] Laundryman-1 Cleaners- 4 Funding:
We have other challenges and difficulties Remitters of funds from abroad should that are limiting us to carry out our mission inform their bankers as follows: efficiently. They are: United Bank for Africa PLC, Nigeria Lack of mobility in carrying out our outreach Swift code: UNAFNGLA and school screening programs Through: Deutsche Bankers Trust CO. Seeking support from organizations Americas, New york, United states Poor electricity supply Insufficient availability of working materi- Swift code: BKTRUS33 als/equipments Routing no: 021001033 Equipping our outreach centers Account number: 04430446 More than 70% of patients are less privileged For Further credit: In conclusion, the hospital has come to stay, to serve humanity and as such need Beneficiary account number: 3001696496 more supporters to achieve this goal. Beneficiary name: DAUGHTERS OF MARY, You can partner with us, we assure you of MOTHER OF MERCY. using your donation judiciously. Beneficiary address: ST JOSEPH’S EYE HOSPITAL MGBIRICHI UBA branch, Resumo MBAERI STREET, OWERRI. La artikolo prezentas la laboron de la St. Joseph Okulkuracista Hospitalo, nova malsanulejo en la Mgbirichi Ohaji / Egbeme LGA Imo Ŝtato de Niĝerio.
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Fig. 3. Patients waiting to collect their medications
Fig. 4. 1st consulting room
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Fig. 5. Theatre section
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