Students of Optometry in Cameroon will be the direct beneficiaries of $20,000 from Canada – from the Alberta Government’s Community Initiatives Program International Development Grants. This program supports humanitarian projects in developing countries and countries in transition.
Optometry Giving Sight will match the grant with $20,000 from donations received from optometrists and their patients in Alberta. The funds will enable much needed equipment to be purchased for the School of Optometry in Yaounde, Cameroon. The equipment will be used to provide clinical training and assessment for the students.
“The lack of trained eye health professionals in rural areas of Cameroon has meant that millions of people are needlessly blind or visually impaired,” said Clive Miller, Global CEO with Optometry Giving Sight. “This tragic situation is being addressed through the training of optometrists and optical technicians at the country’s first School of Optometry. We thank the Alberta Government for their much needed support and look forward to the equipment being in place over the coming months.” The School of Optometry is an initiative of the Cameroon Ministry of Health, Cameroon Optician’s Society, Cameroon Ophthalmological Society and the Brien Holden Vision Institute Public Health Division. There are currently 16 students in their second year of study at the School. It is expected that by 2018, it will have produced more than 80 graduates.