Ugandans in view of the increasing eye diseases in the nation. According to Dr. Julius Luyimbazi, Lubaga Facility’s new Executive Director, the new collaboration would position the hospital as a leader in professional eye care services.
Lubaga Hospital handles around 1500 patients every year with a variety of eye issues. According to Dr. Luyimbazi, some individuals arrive at the hospital unaware that they have eye diseases. The number of patients who are unaware they have eye issues outnumber the number of patients who are aware of their condition. In light of this fact, Dr. Luyimbazi highlighted that hospitals must update their ability in order to expand their eye departments.
Dr. Luyimbazi expressed hopes over the collaboration. He said, “The reason for this partnership is that we want to grow our capacity to take care of Ugandans as far as eye care is concerned. This involves equipment, it involves availing of skilled resources, availing frames and lenses. And as far as Lubaga hospital is concerned we have brought on board a partner who has a lot of expertise, a lot of experience and a lot of resources that are going to help us grow in this branch of health care in Uganda”.
Mr. Anguyo Dralega, managing director of Med-Optics, stated that this agreement will ensure that Ugandans have access to ophthalmic treatments. He disclosed that Med-Optics was able to provide advanced training to the optometrists in collaboration with Makerere University. He said, “We are hopeful that 10 to 15 will graduate to get into the market. And that will improve the number of optometrists that are home grown in Uganda here who are ready to go and serve”.
Mr. Anguyo Dralega revealed the reason for choosing Med-Optics. He said, “Lubaga hospital picked Med-Optics to expand their eye care services because the organization has worked very well in the past 19 years to expand services, to build capacity, and actually on our merit of the services we provide to the public, they decided that we are the suitable partners to be able to help and grow the eye care services in Lubaga hospital”.
Dr. Joseph Seremba, chairman of the Lubaga hospital’s board of governors, stated that they have been observing the steady progress of the eye department over the years and that the arrival of Med-Optics has accelerated that growth. He said, “I think this is new blood into the eye department, and we have high expectations now that Med-optics is on board.”
