Category Archives: NEWS

The Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach (BICO), with support from the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), restored sight to 55 patients during a cataract surgery refresher programme at Nkhoma Mission Hospital. The initiative combined hands-on training, mentorship, and equipment support for cataract surgeons, strengthening Malawi's eye care workforce while giving patients renewed hope, independence, and a better quality.    https://bicomalawi.org/download/55-patients-regained-their-sight-through-bicos-interventions/

BICO’s Child Blindness Project has been transforming the lives of children with low vision in Northern Malawi since 2019 through partnerships with Wilde Ganzen, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education. Through specialized assessments, low-vision devices, rehabilitation services, and educational support, the programme has enabled many children to regain functional vision, improve their learning experiences, and participate more confidently in school and daily life. During a recent two-day outreach at Ekwendeni Resource Centre, a team of eye care professionals assessed 35 learners, including 17 follow-up cases and 18 newly screened children, with results showing remarkable progress among many beneficiaries. The initiative demonstrated how timely low-vision care can restore independence, confidence, and educational opportunities, while reinforcing BICO’s commitment to ensuring that visual impairment does not limit a child’s potential.…

World Sight Day 2025 presents an opportunity to amplify awareness of eye health and emphasize people-centered care. The main objectives that were mainly focused this year were; Increasing public awareness, Promoting access to eye care services, Drive engagement, Strengthen partnerships (with corporate organizations and community institutions) and Boosting clinic foot traffic through promotions aligned with World Sight Day and Mother's Day. 

    2025 Research Dissemination Conference' theme was  "Multidisciplinary Health Research and Innovation Key to Economic Development". BICO, through the Mainstream-WHO project attended the conference which was held at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre. This is where the Mainstream teams presented their research projects and were mainly focused on; Accessibility of feasibility of an immunization screening tool to identify under vaccinated children and fine Scale Mapping of areas of Zero-dose hotspot using model based geostatistical methods. [ngg src="galleries" ids="16" display="basic_imagebrowser"]   

A powerful symbol of hope and mobility rolled into the Ministry of Health headquarters this week: a brand-new 13-seater Landcruiser ambulance, gifted by the Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach (BICO). But this is not just any vehicle, it is a game-changer for Malawi’s national eye health system.

BICO is conducting coverage surveys in eight Onchocerciasis-endemic districts: Blantyre, Mwanza, Mulanje, Phalombe, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Ntcheu, and Zomba, following Mass Drug Administration (MDA) conducted between October and December 2024. Initially, the program extended to Thyolo and Neno districts but has since stopped after recent study found that the presence of Onchocerciasis in these districts has dwindled. This activity is implemented by BICO to compare the results as presented by the MoH to what is actually on the ground. The Survey will seek to address the Ivermectin geographical and therapeutic coverages and their associated reasons including the MDA method used, protocol adherence and side effects recorded.  

BICO, through the Mainstream-WHO project held a contract signing ceremony with 3 PI teams. This ceremony marks the beginning of team-based activities through this project. Prof Khumbo Kalua chaired the meeting and Ms. Jane Dzoole who presented Dr. Mike Chisema was the guest of honor.