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National Eye Care program receives award

Apr 19, 2010, 1:06 PM | Article By: Momodou Faal

The National Eye Care Program of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare last week received an international award from a team of eye specialists from the United States of America and South Korea.

The award was presented to the Gambia National Eye Care Program in appreciation of their dedication and commitment to the provision of eye care services.

Speaking in an interview with this paper, shortly after the presentation of the award to the Minister of Health, the national Program Manager of the Gambia National Eye Care Program, Ansumana Sillah, said the team of specialists worked closely with the National Eye Care Program and conducted 101 sight restoring operations at the Sulayman Junkung General Hospital in Bwiam. He noted that as a result of the team's satisfaction, they decided to give an award to the Gambia Eye Care Program.

He pointed out that the Gambia Eye Care Program has been identified as a role model in the sub-region, and is also co-ordinating the Health for Peace Initiative. Mr Sillah further noted that the Gambia Eye Care Program's performance is still rated the best as indicated by its attainment of an annual cataract surgical rate above the recommended 2000, and also the reduction of the prevention of trachoma to below 5% due to the good national coverage of the country's eye care services.