Who said BICO wasnt active in serving rural communities in Malawi?

This blog is about the work of Blantyre Institute for community OphthalmologyBICO who have been in the forefront of implementing eye health community programs in rural areas in Malawi.

We have been in each and every corner of Malawi; thanks to your support and we intend to visit more areas if we can be further assisted.

BICO started in 2008 in Blantyre Malawi with a childhood blindness project (which was part of the PhD study) by the then founder Dr KK (actually it’s me); but over the course of years BICO has taken a much broader base; doing programs regarding adults as well. Many thanks for those who believed in the programme when it just started; now we can openly show its fruits. The first Non Malawian person to be convinced that BICO could do something was Lion Marco Terzetti, from Italy: who encouraged us to apply for funding from Lion Clubs.

We believe we can change many lives by improving visual status of many Malawian in the community. We are a very small organisation with no real permanent employees; yet we are able to organise many things.

In 2012 BICO has been joined by main Lions Club who believes BICO’s goals are achievable and these include the Lions Club of Netherlands, Lions Club of Arizona, USA and the   Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF). Actually BICO has previously been funded by LCIF through Lions Club of Limbe when we implemented the Phalombe children’s project in 2010 & 2011.In that Project we were supported by the Lions Club of Perugia, Italy.

I can see that we may eventually become a permanent Lion partner (somehow they like us and we like them).Sedona eye clinic in USA is funding us with lenses.

We still need your financial support to reach more rural areas in Malawi.

Together we can do more.

Do you want to donate anything to BICO?

Contact me at  : director@bicomalawi.org

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Finally we made it to Nsialuzu Resource Centre (Blind school) in Ntcheu

Today we are visiting Ntcheu district, in particular Nsialudzu resource centre where there are 37 children with Low Vision/Blind.I am here to familiarise myself with the place as thanks to Lions of Netherlands I will be visiting this place often.

Our objectives are twofold : To donate mattresses, mosquito nets and books that Blantyre Institute for community OphthalmologyBICO  solicited through well wishers such as Dr Vicki Mak  from New Zealand, Insia from UK,  Robray mattres in Blantyre and Lions Club of Limbe ; and secondly: to assess the condition of children in the school for the blind(resource centre). Of course the main contributor was for this trip Vicki Mak.

There are 37 blind/low vision children here and their condition is pathetic as most of them had had never had an eye examination. We are here to assess their condition and see what best can be done to improve their learning. And we have found a 11 year old boy with bilateral cataract in school registered as blind (because he is) and yet he could have come to the eye unit in Blantyre and be operated on ; and could see properly. Imagine in 2012 ; waiting for 11 years before you can go to a hospital to be helped with a condition that once is born with. Very sad indeed . But this boy will now be referred to hospital where hopefully he will regain his sight. I wonder how many more there are out there?

A full report will come on the Blantyre Institute for community OphthalmologyBICO website and there will be a video that has captured the whole event.

Together we can do more.

Do you want to donate to BICO?

Contact me at  : director@bicomalawi.org

Email me!

Current Eye Research updates for BICO in Malawi

Eye Research in Malawi is improving.

Well I wish I could write more about this but I do seem to be having much time. But we are doing  good in this area: several studies are taken place at this time and BICO-Blantyre Institute for community Ophthalmology is coordinating most of these.

We are exploring further collaborations with USA and Netherlands.

 

But got family so have to spend more time with them. Look my daughter who was weighing juts slighly more than a loaf of bread is grown now.We even has her brother.

Being in Malawi most of the time now, I get time to spend with my lovely wife, our daughter and my new son  Yewo (meaning thank you) .I have a full package-not bad.

I am not complaining.

What about you?

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Thank you Rotarians of Limbe

We finally did it.

It was nice seeing so many people from Mulanje regain their Sight after we did Cataract surgeries at Mulanje district hospital on 20^th and 21^st April 2012.

Frank Mbewe my right hand man did most of the work and I am very proud of him.

Bravo to the team that went to Mulanje.

Rotarians, please support more of these eye camps.

Cataract remains the common cause of blindness in MALAWI with over 20,000 blind from the disease.

An operation to remove cataract takes less than 15 minutes (in the experience hands) so these people should not suffer unnecessarily.

What is needed is to support the team to be able to go and perform surgeries. In 2011 Malawi had a zero deficit budget; which meant zero community eye activities.

Blantyre Institute for community Ophthalmology BICO   my unit couldnt  help.

 

Should more Malawians be supporting cataract surgeries from their pockets?

Comment at : director@bicomalawi.org

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YOU ASK WE ANSWER

WE ARE THE EXPERTS IN COMMUNITY EYE HEALTH

Blantyre Institute for community Ophthalmology BICO was founded in Blantyre Malawi in the year 2008 with the mission of contributing to the prevention and control of blindness in Malawi and neighbouring countries in the Southern part of Africa through conducting practical research, teaching, training, consultancy and advocacy in eye care delivery.
The idea to start the institute was conceptualized after realizing that despite nearly 10 years after the launch of the VISION 2020: the Right to Sight; the global initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness and the various achievements in many areas of the world; the southern part of Africa has still not made much progress especially in the area of research on effective community eye care programmes.
The centre aims to coordinate research being carried out eye care professionals in Malawi and transfer the best of its expertise and experience to an ever-increasing number of eye care institutes across Southern Africa The centre is strategically located within the University Of Malawi College Of Medicine teaching eye hospital, the Lions Sight first eye hospital in Blantyre.
The centre has helped in restoring sight to thousands of Malawians.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

You can help by sponsoring a sight restoration eye camp to be done within the community in Malawi.

You can Fund health services research to improve eye services for children?

You can help by sponsoring a midlevel personnel officer to undergo one year ophthalmology training which includes.

You can help by donating cash as little as you can.

You can help by sponsoring a doctor to specialise in ophthalmology (four years course).
Support training of Ophthalmologist Training of nurses in community eye health

Email BICO!

director@bicomalawi.org or bico@bicomalawi.org

Helping Others

Believe me or not; no matter how much you have you don’t get full satisfaction until you start helping others. This is why apart from being an eye doctor, and helping many close relatives, I continue doing charity work through Lions Club of Limbe, which is part of Lions Club International.
My involvement in the club has made me become a better person.
I need to be helped myself in a lot of ways (both financially and non financially) but I also help a lot of others.
Blantyre Institute for community Ophthalmology BICO an organization that I direct is involved in a lot of eye activities that benefit the rural communities of Malawi at no cost to them.
Due to global economic crisis BICO has been facing several challenges including difficulties in fund raising. But we are still doing some work, and are always looking for well wishers who can help us implement programmes.
Do you know of anywhere we could apply for funding? Then please advise us.
What do you say?
Email me!

Washington DC

This place has been very hot for the last few days.
Well you have to stay in door all day.
Managed though to visit the capitol, white house, pentagon and a bit of other places.
I am at Connecticut avenue presenting the issue of blind children in Malawi. Rumours say my presentation was not too bad and we maybe in for another project.
The heat wave here resembles the heat in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts is southern Malawi and also other areas along the lakeshore road (Salima , Nkhotoakota).
Can stay I have enjoyed my stay this time.
But the US governments need to be thanked for their initiatives to fight blindness in Malawi through BICO.
See the picture of a Malawi blind child who may benefit from this project.
You want to support/comment?
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Eye Research in Malawi

Well I wish I could write more about eye research in Malawi but I do seem to be having much time to blog. But we are doing white good in this area: several studies are taken place at this time and BICO-Blantyre Institute for community Ophthalmology is coordinating most of these.
We are exploring further collaborations with Australia and Netherlands.
BICO’s link with University of Waterloo school of optometry still stands, and we expect a group of visitors during next few months.
Being in Malawi now, I get time to spend with my lovely wife and our daughter who will be turning five in next few weeks.
I am not complaining.

What about you?
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Travelled again after a while

We are attending the Trachoma meeting in Geneva Switzerland. A lot of African colleagues are here. From Malawi it’s only two of us.
The weather is nice but honestly I am missing Malawi. This country is too rich for me. Am paying USD 160 per night for a single room. As the saying goes once you are poor, you become poor in mind too. All am thinking is about Nsanje where in Malawi where people live below a dollar a day 8this is bound to change after the famous port opens). Boats on Lake Geneva remind me of the Shire River: can wait when the ships will start sailing. I support development which is good for the country.
We are here for a few more days.
To find find/lean a bit about my other work in Malawi as an Ophthalmologist(Eye Doctor) click here at Blantyre Institute for community Ophthalmology .
No pictures this time.
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Another birthday

Last week I celebrated another birthday.
We went out to TJ restaurant in Blantyre.
I have gained lots of weight since last year .My daughter is also growing everyday.
My wife is working hard as usual.I am now travelling less.
I am also writing less and less as most articles are now being posted on the
BICO website which is our official website.
We continue doing lots of research in Malawi about blindness in children and adults.
Have you checked the website?

Any comment?

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BICO website

Blantyre Institute For community Ophthalmology (BICO) website has got all the information that you need to know about eye services in Malawi.

Have you checked the BICO website recently ? its getting better and better.

Any comment on it? here it is , just click on BICO below and it will take you to the site.

BICO

Promoting excellence in Community Eye Health.

Did you know that i am the research Director?

Did you know that your help is needed? Find out how.

What do you say?
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Zomba Central Hospital has a new eye wing

The opening of the newest Lions Sight First eye hospital in Zomba in September 2010 Malawi has seen Malawi have a total of five dedicate eye hospitals.
The hospital is a modern facility built by the Lions Club of Norway in collaboration with Lions Club of Zomba.
BICO has helped in training 6 nurses that have seen been deployed to the eye department.
Well done Zomba Central hospital for your new entry.
What do you say?
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Phalombe children's project update

Over 500 children have been screened for refractive errors in Phalombe district and a substantial number have received free eye glasses.
In addition Nazombe School for the blind in Phalombe benefited from the BICO-Lions initiative through donation of 10 beds, 10 mattresses and 15 mosquito nets to the school. The school has 15 full time visually impaired children who are accommodate at the school.
The Phalombe children project has been funded by the Lions Club of Perugia Italy (sponsor) through Lions Club of Limbe, Malawi (host) and is being implemented by Lions club of Limbe in collaboration with BICO. The Lions Club of Limbe have not only helped in identifying blind and visual impaired children from Phalombe and referring them to Blantyre, but have also donated items to all children admitted at the Lions Eye Hospital in Blantyre
BICO would like to thank the Lions Club of Perugia and Lions Club of Limbe for making this project a great success.
Special thanks should go to the Paediatric ophthalmologists who is also the head of the Lions Eye Unit in Blantyre for agreeing to operate on these children.
The children can now see.
BICO will continue looking for partners that can help blind and visual impaired children in other Malawian districts.
What do you say?
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BICO celebrates the graduation of two Malawian Ophthalmologists

Dr Petros Kayange and Dr Tamara Chirambo are the first Malawian Ophthalmologists doctors to graduate locally from College of Medicine; University of Malawi .They will be awarded a masters of medicine (M.Med) in Ophthalmology in 2011. The two doctors were enrolled in the programme in 2006 and have completed their minimum four year.
During their course they had exposure to research being conducted by Blantyre Institute for Community Ophthalmology, and were supervised by the Research director for BICO for their masters thesis.
BICO is proud to have been involved in capacity building in eye care in Malawi, through training of Ophthalmologists, nurses, ophthalmic clinical officer and Community health workers .
Congratulations to our new graduates.
What do you say?
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Write up status

Ask me about my status; am known that I am in a “write up status” instead of the usual happily married answer .You see once the major research data collection has been completed , one is suppoosed to go into a write up status, symbolizing that you have to analyze and synthesize the data and then write up paper.This is the stat I am in now , which is really a busy period.Well its even harder harder you are in Malawi (home and dry) where other demanding things pop up all the time .
For instance I am the technical advisor to the Phalombe children project , jointly conducted by Lions Club of Limbe and Lions Club of Perugia , Italy .This is a project where we are screening children for need for glasses and providing glasses for free ; and also refering those who need surgery .Blantyre Insititute for community Ophthalmology (BICO) is coordinating the project .A big screening activity has been planned on 2nd October 2010.
I also have with me my elective Optometry students from University of Waterloo in Canada during this period .
Did you know the Lions Eye hospital in Zomba will be opened on 1st of October and that I have declined to be the director? Too much stress at the moment and I may end up collapsing.
I am concentrating on the write up. Once that is done then we can see what is next?
So when you see me not blogging , well am fine in Blantyre , but going on. See pictures of our project in Phalombe , Nazombe resource centre with Lion members?

What do you say?
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