Ophthalmologic
Services
The ophthalmologic service
has an ophthalmic surgeon, ophthalmic nurses and helpers. Mobile
medical teams led by an ophthalmic nurses visit peasant associations
and screens members for treatable eye diseases. Acute infections are treated on the spot. The
ophthalmic nurses also perform eyelid surgery (tarsotomy) for
trachoma complications. Surgeries are performed at health
posts and appropriate field stations converted to temporary operating
rooms. On the average 5,000 tarsotomies are performed every
year.
Patients with serious
eye diseases and those requiring cataract and other surgical
interventions are referred to the ophthalmic surgeon in the
Butajira Rehabilitation Center for more sophisticated evaluation
and treatment. Every year ophthalmologists perform
over 1,200 cataract surgeries.
During visits to peasant
associations, members of the mobile team provide health education
to the community on methods of preventing eye diseases and
seeking early treatment. A
health educational program under health officers also involves
community health agents who are trained to pass basic health
related messages to the community on a regular and sustained
basis.
Optometry service
Grarbet,
with assistance from Vision Aid Overseas (UK) and Orbis-International
Ethiopia, trains nurses in basic refraction and the prescription
of eyeglasses. Low-cost eyeglasses are produced at Grarbet's
optical workshop in Butajira. The optometry service is
provided at Grarbet centers in Butajira and Zeway as well as
outreach clinics in the villages. The Grarbet optical workshop
produces 5,000 eyeglasses every year.
Vocational training center for persons
with disabilities
Recently Grarbet has established
a skill training school for the blind and the physically handicapped. Twenty
such persons are trained every two months at the center in
Butajira. On graduation the trainees are given raw materials
and professional guidance to establish their own home-based
production units. The training has been designed to equip
the disabled with practical skills that would make him/her
economically independent and a self confident member of his/her
community. The program has been very much appreciated
by the trainees, their families and the community at large.
Ear Nose Throat (ENT) services
A
modest ENT service has started in 2006. With the support
of Christoffel-Blindenmission (CBM) it will be expanded in 2007
to include minor ear surgeries. A special audiometry, hearing
aid fitting laboratory is planned for 2008.
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