OBJECTIVES
Create public awareness about prevention of eye diseases and blindness through TV and Radio.
Perform 1000 to 2000 free cataract surgeries with IOL implant in a year
Screen and treat glaucoma and increase availability of anti glaucoma drugs
Screen and correct refractive errors in school children
Create a low vision unit
Put in place a nationwide outreach
Increase access to eyecare services for maginalized communities ( Bushmen, Mbororo, Refugees )
ABOUT US
We are a group of health workers made of ophthalmologists, cardiologist, surgeon, clinical officers, ophthalmic nurses and all those who are willing to help poor people in Central African Republic to fight preventable blindness.
As a young boy at the age of 4years, his mother called him “MY DOCTOR”.
Dr Youfegan completed his undergraduate study in general medecine in the University of Bangui in CAR in 2000, and started working for the government in Ouham pende and Ombella M’poko districts as a general doctor. During his internship, he met Dr Adrian Hopkins, a British Ophthalmologist who was working for CBM (Christophel Blinden Mission) in Bossangoa (Ouham district) who realized that, the young physician was devoted to help others and was doing well during the short training he had organized in Basics in Eye Care.
With the support of Dr Hopkins and a Sponsorship granted by CBM, Dr Youfegan did his specialization at the University of Nairobi in Kenya which he completed in 2008. At this time, he had a job opportunity to stay abroad but he declined the offer because he knew he would be more useful in CAR which had just 2 Ophthalmologist serving more than 4.5 millions Population. He came back home in 2009, by the assistance of his mentor, Dr Georges YAYA, Chief ophthalmologist, Director at the Ministry of health for fighting blindness, he got the opportunity to be invited to the United States by the AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology) and the Rotary host Project in USA, where he improved his Surgical skills through seminars and workshops. When he came back home, he found that there is a great need in the country concerning fighting avoidable blindness (Cataract, Glaucoma, Trachoma, Vitamin A Deficiency, Use of Traditionnal Medecine, Refractive Errors etc…), and with this trend, CAR will never be able to reach the goal of Vision 2020.
Accordingly, he put in place with the collaboration of other health workers the association called TIRI NA ZIBA meaning ” LET FIGHT BLINDNESS” in sango, the national language.
MEMBERSHIP
BOARD
Dr Georges YAYA
Ophthalmologist
Chairperson / Advisor
Dr. Antoine DOUI DOUMGBA
Surgeon
Advisor
Dr. Cornelia LEKLEGBAN-T
Ophthalmologist
Vice President
Dr Benoit KEMATA
Ophthalmologist
Advisor
Dr. Grace à Dieu YABETA
Cardiologist
Member
Dr. Antoine TATANGBA
Ophthalmologist
Member
Mr. Raymond VOUROU
Clinical officer
Communication Manager