Interview with Mr. Sarjo Kebba Kanyi (SK) Administrator/Cataract Surgeon

Can you tell me your education background and experience?

My name is Sarjo Kebba Kanyi; the world knows me as SK, born in NewYundumVillage, Kombo North, and Western Region.

I attended YundumPrimary School in late 70s and Armitage and MuslimHigh School respectively in 80s. I attended Gambia College School of Nursing and Midwifey from 1987 to 1990. Upon graduating from the college I worked in Royal Victorial Teaching Hospital briefly and I was later redeployed to BansangHospital from 1990 to 1992.

Based on hard work and merit I was identified by the Chief Executive of hospital to joint the Ophthalmology unit at RVTH for possible overseas training.

In 1993 I left for Malawi to pursue one year course in ophthalmology at Malawi College of Health Sciences in Lilongwe and graduated in 1994 as an Ophthalmic Medical Assistant.

Upon returning home I worked in RVTH for two years before proceeding to the same College in Malawi from 1996 to 1998 where I graduated as Certified Cataract Surgeon.

I return to the Gambia and was posted to Basse health center as cataract responsible for eye care services in Upper Rever Region. In September 2000 I was redeployed to AFPRC GeneralHospital in Farafenni as head of eye unit and also responsible for the eye care servies in NBR and LRR respectively. It was challenge imagine every month conducting outreach cataract surgery in Essau, Kuntair, Kerewan, Salikene, Kaur, Jarra Bureng, Soma, Kwinalla and Kiang Karantaba for four years.

In 2004 I left for the UK to pursue Masters Degree in Sciences (MSc) in community eye health from a prestigious University of London School of Hygiene & Topical Medicine.

I graduated in 2005 with MSc and a Post graduate diploma and have since return home to continue with eye care services. I worked in RVTH for one year until January 2007 when I was again posted to Brikama health center as head of the eye unit and responsible for eye care services in western region, providing surgical eye care services for Sulayman Junkung GeneralHospital in Bwiam.

During this short period I had an opportunity to travel to India to undergo a management course in New Delhi and Chandigarh for two months.

To my surprise in December 2007 I was appointed as Administrator for SZRRECC with effect from 1st January 2008, the position I held up to present moment

WHAT IS SZRECC DOING IN THE AREA OF OPERATION?

The Goal of establishing the SZRECC is to improve the eye Health of the population of Health For Peace Initiative countries, The Gambia, Senegal Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry through training, surgical intervention for more complex and complicated eye disease, which hitherto have been referred abroad, provision of outreach services and for research.

With quality and best practice being its goal these activities are carried out through its various units:

.Outpatient services

.Inpatient services

.Surgical services

.RegionalOphthalmicTraining school

.Optical sub-unit, including Low Vision services

.Local production of eye drops, the center is now producing its own drugs

Surgical Procedures available at present include:

Suture less small incision cataract surgery with IOL implant.

Trabeculectomy

YAG laser

Excision of dermoids, pterygii, lid growths, trabut

Destructive surgery etc

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SUCCESS REGISTERED SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT?

The center runs 24 hours eye care services.

Regional Ophthalmic Training programme is now attracting student far beyond health for peace Initiative countries with students coming from as far as Madagascar and Zambia; this is we have seen students coming from Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Established a link with Singleton hospitals in Swansea, Wales, and the two institutions have just signed a memorandum of understanding in June when a team from SZRECC visited there. A three activity plan have been developed which will be jointly implemented for the next three years.

Satellite connection for all our wards and clinic, patients can easily watch TV and listen to news whiles waiting for their Doctors.

The production of local eye drops at SZRECC, the regional center

Borehole for center, knowing that hospital cannot go without water and this would ensure quality.

All units functioning except the research unit which hopefully will take off by January 2009.

Wireless internet connection for the facility among others

Community outreach services for SJGH in Bwiam and Kaninlai.

Can you tell me something about your training programme?

.Certificate course in Community Ophthalmic Nursing

.Diploma in Ophthalmic Nursing

.Advance Diploma in Surgical Ophthalmic Nursing.

.Local production of eye drops

.English Language courses for three months

INSERVICE TRAINING FOR NURSE ATTENDANTS

MONTHSNo. of Patients seen at OPDNo. of Eye Operations

JANUARY631109

FEBRUARY591123

MARCH94678

APRIL126668

MAY1050120

JUNE1377115

JULY124677

AUGUST1237127

SEPTEMBER115272

TOTAL9496889

MONDAYCLINIC

TUESDAYTHEATRE/ GLAUCOMA CLINIC/TUTORIALS

WEDNESDAYCLINIC

THURSDAYTHEATRE/LOW VISION CLINIC

FRIDAYFOLLOW UP

SATURSDAY24 HOURS CALL SERVICES

SUNDAY24 HOURS CALL SERVICES