Since the beginning of January 2025, over 600 individuals have received invaluable assistance through complimentary eye consultations and screenings across three prominent cities in Cameroon: Yaoundé, Douala, and Bamenda.
This initiative is a key component of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Cameroon’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, executed in collaboration with the reputable Acha Eye Hospital. For the current year, the pan-African financial institution has ambitious plans to conduct upwards of 1,500 free eye consultations. “If we maintain this momentum, we are set to surpass the original targets established at the year’s outset,” remarked the bank’s representatives.
UBA’s commitment to addressing eye health challenges stems from the critical importance of early detection in preventing eye diseases. A significant number of conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts, progress silently, often manifesting symptoms only when they have reached advanced, less treatable stages. Early diagnosis through regular check-ups can be fundamental in averting irreversible vision loss, as emphasized by the bank.
An essential aspect of this initiative is the focus on enhancing access to essential eye care services. In many underserved communities, the costs associated with eye care can be prohibitively expensive, or essential services may simply be nonexistent. By offering these free consultations, UBA is actively dismantling both financial and logistical barriers, thereby facilitating wider access to crucial eye examinations.
Moreover, the initiative places a strong emphasis on raising public awareness and educating communities about the vital role of routine eye exams in safeguarding overall visual health. Educational campaigns aim to highlight the significance of preventive care, encouraging individuals to prioritize their eye health. One of the initiative’s primary objectives is to address prevalent vision issues. Numerous individuals struggle with undiagnosed refractive errors, such as myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). The consultations serve to identify these issues and present straightforward solutions, like prescription glasses, ultimately enhancing quality of life.
Community empowerment is also a key pillar of this program. UBA recognizes that good vision is fundamental to learning, productive work, and executing daily activities. By promoting eye health, this initiative bolsters productivity, enhances educational outcomes, and contributes to the overall well-being of the community.
The focus on preventive care additionally alleviates pressure on the healthcare system, as early intervention reduces the occurrence of advanced cases that would necessitate complex and costly treatments. In essence, this initiative not only directly enriches individuals’ lives but also aligns with broader public health objectives.
The program’s value is underscored by its aim to detect eye conditions in their early stages and facilitate timely interventions. “Most of our patients don’t present serious conditions; they primarily have refractive errors, which can frequently be remedied with a simple pair of glasses. This is why we incorporate refraction tests during our awareness campaigns to identify those in need of glasses,” explains Aweh Tchounda Fandio, the Outreach Coordinator at Acha Eye Hospital in Yaoundé. He further emphasizes, “At the conclusion of each campaign day, we ensure that no case of glaucoma or other suspicious signs goes undetected, as blindness resulting from glaucoma is irreversible. However, early detection can help prevent this.”
UBA’s role in this collaboration extends beyond mere financial support; the bank contributes significantly by providing logistical assistance to the medical teams from Acha Eye Hospital throughout the consultation campaigns. UBA facilitates reception areas within its branches for public access and plays a supportive role in outreach efforts led by the field teams from Acha Eye Hospital, who actively engage with residents in targeted neighbourhoods to share information about the free consultations available.
In terms of eligibility, UBA emphasizes inclusivity: anyone seeking eye care is encouraged to participate. “Thus far, we see promising progress. Together with the teams from Acha Eye Hospital, we aim to amplify our awareness initiatives ahead of each campaign to ensure a greater number of people are informed and can make use of this invaluable free service,” the management of the bank states.
The eye examinations conducted during the consultations include comprehensive assessments of both the anterior and posterior segments of the eye, aimed at identifying diseases that could result in blindness or hinder patients’ ability to perform their daily activities.
