OPHTHALMOLOGY
HOD: Dr. H. Kilima
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Eye care services in Mbeya Region
There is one secondary eye facility in Mbeya, the Mbeya Regional Hospital, where there is cataract surgeon and Mbeya Referral Hospital where there is one ophthalmologist (as of 2009).
The eye care personnel in Mbeya is as indicated below. |
Manpower available in Mbeya region:
Personell |
Number |
Ophthalmologists |
1 |
AMO-O (cataract surgeons) |
1 |
AMO-O (general) |
1 |
Optometrists |
6 |
Opticians |
0 |
Ophthalmic nurses |
6 |
Ophthalmic assistants |
16 |
Cataract is reported to be the leading cause of blindness in Mbeya region. The cataract surgical rate (CSR=cataract surgeries per million population per year) for Mbeya Region for the year 2006 was about 260.
Primary facilities
In all of the eight districts there are primary eye care services by District Eye Care Coordinators.
Eye services provided at Mbeya Consultant Hospital
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Mbeya Consultant Hospital is the only tertiary eye care service provider for over six million people living in Mbeya and its neighbouring Regions. The hospital serves walk-in and referred patients as at the moment neither Surgical outreach, where a team travels out of the hospital to screen, treat patients, and provide surgeries neither Non surgical outreach, where patients who need surgery are brought to the hospital are done by the Hospital. The department has no car for transport and the general hospital has few cars hence it is difficult for department to perform outreach activities
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Manpower Available.
Man power |
# Available |
Ophthalmologist |
1 |
Cataract Surgeon |
1 |
Optometrist |
4 |
Ophthalmic nurse assistant |
3 |
Enrolled Nurse |
2 |
Counselor |
0 |
Programme manager/Coordinator |
1 |
The Mbeya Consultant Hospital Eye Department has a team of eleven people; however, the cataract surgeon is not full time as she also works at Mbeya Regional Hospital. The department has 32 beds eye ward, which is currently shared with other surgical specialties.
The OPD has four small rooms that are used for general ophthalmic activities and optical services.
Equipment Available at Mbeya Consultant Hospital.
Equipment |
# Available |
Slit lamp (No Tonometer) |
1 |
Fundus camera |
1 |
Direct Ophthalmoscope |
1 |
Schiotz Tonometer |
1 |
Trial case and frame |
1 |
Auto Refractor |
1 |
Operating Microscope |
1 |
Cataract set |
1 |
Glaucoma set |
1 |
Squint set |
1 |
Extra ocular set |
1 |
FUTURE PLANS
- To provide quality cataract surgical services to its catchments area.
- To establish outreach programme in the form of Direct Referral Sites.
- To establish School of Cataract Surgeons (Assistant Medical Officer Ophthalmology).
- To establish Sub speciality clinic for paediatric ophthalmology.
