The case study of one cataract surgeon maximizing efforts to reach out the inaccessible communities
Name: Dereje Hailu, 39 years old
Occupation: Cataract Surgeon
Residence: Wolkite Town, Gurage Zone
Facility: Wolkite Health Center SECU
Dereje Hailu lives in Wolkite town, Gurage Zone, in the SNNPRS. Since the beginning of 2016, he has been serving as a cataract surgeon at Wolkite secondary eye care unit (SECU). Dereje is one of the non-Medical Doctor Cataract surgeons who were trained in special program initiated and supported by Orbis at Gondor University.
Dereje visited by Orbis higher officials while conducting cataract surgery (left to right: 1.Dereje; 2. CEO,OI; 3. Country director, OE; 4. REC program manager, OE
Dereje is a devoted cataract surgeon trying to make a difference in his community. From the time Dereje started working at Wolkite Health Center SECU, he was able to benefit more than 3000 people with cataract surgery service at a base facility. The SECU in collaboration with Orbis conducts at least one round outreach service for cataract surgery and comprehensive eye care services to the inaccessible communities every quarter.
On November 2016, unique to all the previous outreach rounds, Dereje and his team supported by Orbis were able to make a huge success by reaching out more than 555 people for cataract, Trachomatous trichiasis, and refraction error screening. Out of the total number of people who were screened, 106 individuals have gone through very successful cataract surgeries. Other 34 people had undergone Trachomatous Trichiasis surgery while 119 people received prescription for eye glasses.
This historical outreach service was conducted for consecutive five days at Hawaryat Health Center, MuhirAklil District within Gurage Zone. Dereje said:
"I would like to thank Orbis for organizing and facilitating the outreach, initiating the local authorities for contribution and commitment, delivering supplies and arranging transport for the SECU team including for the post OP patient visits and overall coordinating the outreach. We would have not made this success without Orbis's valuable contribution”
During the outreach program at MuhirAklil
Dereje performing Cataract Surgery as beneficiaries waiting for their turn at Hawaryat Health Center outreach program
Dereje appreciated the contribution of the district's local authorities as well as it was significantly helpful in bringing out beneficiaries during a successful mobilization. The district administration has also assigned vehicles to transport beneficiaries from their village for surgery and post operation follow up. The involvement of the local district office in this outreach shows Orbis’s effort in advocacy to make eye care a priority in the region as well as in the country’s health agenda.
Vehicles assigned by the districts administration to transport the patients