GLAUCOMA : A CHALLENGE IN A RURAL AREA IN BURKINA FASO SANOU Jérôme: Centre of Ophthalmology Zorgho - Burkina Faso RIGAL Karl : Light For The World - Austria September 2012

CENTRE OPHTHALMIC ZORGHO (COZ) -Supported by LIGHT FOR THE WORLD, cbm -Activities since 2005: care centre, training centre, outreach activities - Health workers(variable): Ophthalmologist = 1 Cataract surgeon = 1 Ophtalmic nurses = 4

INTRODUCTION -In 2005 the rate of diagnosed glaucoma patients at COZ was 2,1% of all consulting patients, the rate of trabeculectomies was 2,3% of all eye surgeries. -Most of these patients are seen in an advanced state of glaucoma, many of them already blind in one eye: Glaucomatous optic atrophy (C/D=1,0) 51,9% both eyes Blindness RE = 46,9% Blindness LE = 45,7% Blindness both eyes = 27,1% (COZ 2005)

PURPOSE: to increase the detection rate of glaucoma and surgical care of glaucoma at the COZ 1. Increasing the nursing staff´s awareness and knowledge of glaucomatous optic nerve damage in fundus examination of patients. 2. Screening of family members of glaucoma patients by nursing staff. 3. Direct communication with patients about the risk of blindness. 4. Training/retraining of the ophthalmologist in the surgical management of glaucoma.

RESULTS

CONCLUSION -Increased diagnosis of glaucoma patients by glaucoma screening focused on patients visiting the ophthalmic center and the relatives of glaucoma patients. -Increased rate of trabeculectomies by direct and intensive personal communication with patients at risk of getting blind from glaucoma. -There is a need of awareness raising and training of health workers in general and specialists in ophthalmology in glaucoma management to compete with the challenge of reducing glaucoma blindness.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION !