Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Arnaud Nicolas MAWEL
Published on 2024-03-04 09:28:30
The Head of State visited this health facility on February 2nd, known for its outstanding eye care performances.
Images circulating online since last Saturday depict the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, accompanied by his wife, visiting the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute in Oback. The location is in the Okola commune, Lekie department, in the Centre region, about twenty kilometers from Yaoundé. In the published photos, the Head of State is seen being welcomed by professionals in white coats, then seated in the waiting area.
No official statement has provided the reason for this visit. Some supporters of the regime view it as a spontaneous visit to demonstrate that President Paul Biya, at 91 years old, remains active and attentive to the state. Others speculate that the President’s presence in Oback last weekend was for an ophthalmology consultation, suggesting various interpretations of the socio-political landscape in Cameroon.
According to the Okola municipality, the international reference hospital for ophthalmology, Magrabi ICO in Oback, “is now a source of pride for all patients concerned about eye problems. The President of the Republic, Paul Biya, accompanied by his wife, Madame Chantal Biya, visited to witness the quality treatment provided to users.”
Functional since March 2017, the Oback Eye Hospital offers solutions for vision problems to Cameroonians and patients from other countries. It is considered the largest ophthalmological hospital in Black Africa, catering to various specialties including cornea and external eye, glaucoma, cataracts, pediatric ophthalmology, vitreo-retina, and oculoplasty. The hospital receives support from the US government through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).
The regional excellence and reference center for eye care in Africa welcomed the Head of State three days after its Director General, Dr. Henry Nkumbe, was awarded the 2024 Eye Care Champion prize by the prestigious conglomerate of experts from the Cameroonian Society of Ophthalmology.
The visit by President Paul Biya to the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute in Oback showcases the importance of eye care in the country and highlights the efforts made in providing quality treatment to patients.
Read the original article(French) on Journal du Cameroun
