Cameroon has a population of 18 million people. It is split into 10 provinces, 2 English speaking and 8 French although the government officials are all expected to be bilingual. The country is made up of over 200 tribes.

Cameroon has a national plan for blindness. There are 45 ophthalmologists and 12 cataract surgeons, of which the majority are based in Yaounde and Douala. All of these were trained outside the country. In order to satisfy the Vision 2020 requirement Cameroon should be doing 50,000 cataract operations per year. It is currently doing 13,000.

Right to Sight currently has three projects in Cameroon

1. National Ophthalmic Teaching Programme

Current Status

• The Government of Cameroon has initiated an ophthalmic training course and RTS has been asked to assist with the effort.

• RTS is joining the HR capacity building initiative by the Govt.

• RTS initiated its involvement in early 2008.

RTS Objectives

• To establish a long term training program for ophthalmology.

• To increase a number of surgeons working in country.

• To increase the subspecialty expertise at the referral hospitals in Yaounde and Douala.

2. Mbingo Baptist Mission Hospital

Current Status

• The Baptist Hospital has an eye unit which does around 1,000 cataract operations per year.

• RTS will work to develop their capacity to perform high-volume, sustainable eye care services.

RTS Objectives

• To expand the cataract surgical rate to 3,000 and out-patient capacity to 30,000 per annum by 2009.

• To develop an outreach program with an additional partner, a local NGO that works with the disabled and has expertise in bring patients to the hospital.

• To create a long term sustainable programme of eye care in the Bamenda Province.

3. Institute of Community Ophthalmology

Current Status

• The King of Bamenda Province has donated land to establish a community eye care center and RTS has been engaged as a partner in this effort.

• RTS will help facilitate the development of this project and the ongoing training.

RTS Objectives

• To work in partnership with LAICO in design of the new building and in training of staff.

• To establish the centre as a national resource to help expand the education, awareness, and outreach programmes for Cameroon.