A group of eye specialists are conducting cataract surgeries at Zomba Central hospital.
World Sight Day Commemoration: BICO Promotes Eye Health Awareness and Offers Discounts on Eye Glasses
As part of the World Sight Day celebrations, BICO visited several schools in Blantyre to raise awareness among children about the importance of eye health and how to care for their eyes. A dedicated team of optometrists led interactive sessions, teaching learners simple practices for maintaining good eye health. Students who required eye screenings were referred to BICO clinics for free eye tests. Additionally, BICO is offering a special promotion: children aged 6-17 years needing eye glasses will receive a 50% discount, while adults aged 18 and above will receive a 30% discount on their total charges. This promotion runs from September until October 12, 2024.
Mzuzu Kids Surgeries in Commemoration of 2024 World Sight Day
In celebration of the 2024 World Sight Day theme, "Love Your Eyes Kids," BICO conducted eye surgeries for children with various eye conditions requiring surgical intervention. These surgeries were carried out during the week starting on September 16, 2024.
BICO Screening in Health Centers, Churches nd Workplaces
In order to reach out to every one for eye care services, BICO took an initiative to visit all the health centers around Blantyre to offer eye services to the less privileged. Many had the opportunity to get their eyes tested and got their eye glasses at an affordable price. BICO also visited different dominations to offer free eye screening.
BICO ESCRS PROJECT
In 2023, BICO has been supporting refresher trainings conducted by Ophthalmogists from Zomba, Nkhoma and Mzuzu hospitals. This was done after discovering that cataract surgeons have been practicing without being supervised by zonal Ophthalmologists and that almost all did not attend refresher trainings as part of continued medical education.
World Sight Day
World Sight Day is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of October. This was established by the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to raise awareness on blindness and visual impairments. 2023’s World Sight day was celebrated on October 12th under the theme “LOVE YOUR EYES AT WORK. BICO participated in the act by visiting different institutions and organizations to offer free eye checkup.
CWW, BICO and MoH Meeting
As part of collaborative arrangements to end Neglected Tropical Diseases by 2020, Children Without Worms (CWW), a program of the Task Force for Global Health, Atlanta, USA in collaboration with the Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach (BICO), is looking to partner with the Malawi Ministry of Health Neglected Tropical Disease Program and other implementing partners to provide Financial and Technical support to their Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) control program from 2023 onwards. For this reason, CWW and BICO held a one-day engagement meeting with MOH Neglected diseases program managers and supporting partners at BICO offices in Blantyre on Tuesday 1st August 2023. The aim was to identify gaps for STH control, which can be supported by CWW.
BICO’S EXHIBITION – TRADE FAIR GROUNDS
BICO organized a free eye checkup camp at the trade fair grounds in Blantyre. The fair was scheduled from 16th through 23rd May 2023. The residents of Blantyre and the surrounding areas witnessed the noble gesture of BICO’s free eye checkup. The camp was organized as a generous commitment of BICO to making sure that everyone enjoys their right to sight.