Brief Historical Facts of the AEF
- October 19, 2011:
Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute at the 4th International Exhibition for Enterprises, SMEs and Partnerships of Yaounde
The Africa Eye Foundation has secured a stand for the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute during the 4th International Exhibition for Enterprises, SMEs and Partnerships of Yaounde (Salon Promote), from 3rd to 11th December 2011 in Yaounde.
Salon Promote, is the biggest exhibition of enterprises and SMEs in the Central African region. Over 1,000 exhibitors from nearly thirty countries from all the continents, and more than 120,000 visitors are expected this year, up from 110,000 visitors, who attended the 3rd edition in December 2008.
Do please visit our stand, if you will be attending the exhibition.
- July 11, 2012
Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute plans laser vision correction centre in Yaoundé
Spectacles and contact lenses are the traditional approaches to correcting vision disorders caused by refractive errors such as myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia. Nevertheless, laser vision correction, which is now one of the most common eye surgical procedures in North America, South America, Western Europe and Asia, is becoming increasingly popular in Africa. Although there are currently no centres offering laser vision correction services in the Central African region (Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Gabon, DRC, Congo, Angola, Central African Republic, etc. ) with a population of around 150 million, Kenya alone (just 30% of Central Africa’s population) has 3 centres, such as Eagle Eye Laser and Diagnostic Centre, which perform laser vision correction procedures (LASIK, LASEK, etc.), while South Africa has many more. Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute will incorporate a state-of-the-art laser centre staffed by ophthalmologists and other highly qualified personnel, which will provide laser vision correction services such as LASIK, LASEK and other forms of surgical vision correction such as intraocular contact lenses to the people of Yaoundé, Douala and the rest of Cameroon. Cameroon’s strategic geographical location between West and Central Africa, the excellent air links from Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport, the recently improved road network to neighbouring countries and Cameroon’s bilingual nature (English and French) make Yaoundé an ideal location for the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute. As well as serving Cameroon’s immediate needs, therefore, Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute will be well placed to receive clients for laser vision correction and other specialist eye care services (cataract surgery, glaucoma management, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, children’s eye diseases, strabismus, etc. ), both from neighbouring countries such as Gabon, Guinea, Congo, Chad and Nigeria, and from countries such as Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Angola and Senegal.- July 25, 2012
Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute Promoters honoured at the World Ophthalmology Congress 2012
Dr Akef El-Maghraby, founder of the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute, received awards from the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) during the World Ophthalmology Congress ® (WOC2012) in Abu Dhabi.
The awards were in recognition of their pioneering work in ophthalmology and for significant contributions to global eye care.
- August 31, 2012
Construction work on Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute in Yaounde about to start
As the bulldozers move in to prepare the construction site for this state-of-the-art eye hospital and training center in Yaounde, Cameroon, we wish to share with you some photographs of Obak and the proposed institute site.
- December 12, 2014
Africa Eye Foundation Board Chairman, Dr Akef El-Maghraby visits construction site
Dr Akef El-Maghraby, board chairman of the Africa Eye Foundation, and main promoter of the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute was in Yaounde, Cameroon, from November 22nd-24th 2014.
The main objective of his visit was to see for himself progress made on the construction and reassess with the contractor what the likely dates for the completion of the first phase buildings are.
Dr El-Maghraby was also received in audience by H.E. Dr Philemon Yang, Prime Minister of Cameroon and by H.E. Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, the Minister Delegate in Charge of Relations with the Commonwealth at the Ministry of External Relations.
Accompanying Dr El-Maghraby was a team of senior advisers comprised of:
- Barrister Clement N. Fondufe, representing Latham and Watkins, an international law firm providing pro bono legal services to the Africa Eye Foundation.
- Prof Aref Soliman, from Magrabi Hospitals
- Senior Engineer Ahmed Adam, from Magrabi Hospitals
- Mr Eric Vachetto, world renowned landscape architect.
- Dr Henry Nkumbe, acting CEO, Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute
Equally present were representatives of some of our partners such as Ms Tammy Merril from ORBIS and Mr Peter Mue from CBM.
It should be recalled that the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital visited Cameroon in October 2013, one of the first fruits of our partnership.
- February 10, 2015
Prime Minister H.E. Dr Philemon Yang visits Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute
On Tuesday 27 January 2015, His Excellency Dr. Philemon Yang, Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon, visited the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI), located in Oback (15km from Nkolbisson), on the Yaounde-Okola highway.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by some 10 Cabinet Ministers and close collaborators.
Dr Akef El-Maghraby, promoter of the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute and board chairman of the Africa Eye Foundation had travelled all the way from Saudi Arabia to receive the Prime Minister and his entourage.
The main objective of the project is to deliver comprehensive, high-quality and affordable subspecialty eye care to all independent of their ability to pay, and to Conduct certified hands-on training courses to train and equip the African eye care experts of tomorrow.
The following subspecialties are envisaged: cataract, glaucoma, retina and vitreous surgery, paediatric ophthalmology, cornea, refractive surgery (vision correction with laser), orbit and oculoplastic surgery and neuro-ophthalmology.
The project is estimated to cost more than CFA 8 billion (US$ 16 million), of which more than CFA 3billion have already been raised. Half of the money so far raised has been donated by Dr Akef Maghraby. The rest has been raised by key partners such as CBM, ORBIS, Seeing is Believing and ICO. More than CFA one billion has already been invested in Cameroon towards the construction of MICEI, while CFA one billion has equally been spent on biomedical equipment.
- August 2, 2015
US Embassy Medical Attache pays visit to Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute
A delegation from the Health Unit of the US Embassy in Yaounde visited the construction site of the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute on the 1st July 2015.
Health Unit of US Embassy and AEF Cameroon team.
The head of the delegation, Mr James Fulton, Medical attaché, was impressed by the initiative and amount of work already done. Mr Fulton promised to share information on the project and invite MICEI to a forum gathering all actors in the health sector organised by the US Embassy in Yaounde.
Africa Eye Foundation is working with a coalition of partners to improve access to world class eye care services in subspecialties such as retina and vitreous surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplastics, neuroophthalmology, cataract, glaucoma, cornea and refractive surgery in Cameroon and the entire Central African Subregion.
- February 20, 2016
- February 27th 2016
On, February 27th 2016 the Cameroon Society of Ophthalmology visited MICEI.
Visite de la Société Camerounaise d’Ophtalmologie au Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute.
- April 6, 2016
Eye Care Leaders from West and Central Africa Visit Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute
Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute was honoured in February 2016 by three delegations of eye care leaders from Central and West Africa. Construction of the institute is nearing completion and most of the equipment is already on site.
West African College of Surgeons, Ophthalmology Faculty.
Collège Ouest Africain des Chirurgiens, Faculté d’Ophtalmologie.
The first delegation, comprised of ophthalmology faculty and fellows of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS). Led by Prof Chimdi Chuka-Okosa, Chairman of the Ophthalmology Faculty Board, they took time off their rather busy schedules during the 56th annual conference of WACS holding in Yaounde to visit MICEI on 16th February 2016. The delegation also included renowned leaders such as Professor Folashade Akinsola, Professor Caroline Adeoti and Dr Dupe Ademola-Popoola.
WACS Ophthalmology Faculty at MICEI
The WACS delegation was followed closely by the visit of Dr Stephen Akafo and Dr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, two renowned vitreoretinal surgeons and senior lecturers from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. With 2,000 beds, Korle Bu Teaching hospital is believed to be the third largest hospital in Africa.
Dr Akafo et Dr Amissah-Arthur, ophtalmologues spécialisés en chirurgie vitréorétinienne, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
- May 16, 2016
Africa Eye Foundation at the Global Financial Markets Forum
… there are approximately 40 million people who are blind, 80% of which is avoidable and preventable. It becomes an ethical imperative that we all do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen…
Tamer Makary, Vice President of Africa Eye Foundation, at the Global Financial Markets Forum 2015.
- July 29, 2016
Visite du MINSANTE au Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI)
On Monday, May 30th 2016, the Minister of Public Health of Cameroon, H.E. Andre Mama Fouda paid a visit to the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI) at Oback, on the outskirts of Yaounde.
Dr El Maghraby was accompanied to Cameroon by Prof Bradley Straatsma (AEF Vice President), Prof Bruce Spivey (AEF Secretary General) as well as a senior engineer and senior managers from the Magrabi Group
According to the Minister of Health, MICEI will not only reduce the need for medical evacuations abroad for eye care, it could contribute in making Cameroon an eye care training hub and medical tourism destination.
- March 29th 2017
The Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute was officially inaugurated on March 29th 2017 by H.E. Dr Philemon Yang, Prime Minister and Head of Government of Cameroon.
Herewith a CRTV documentary on MICEI.
- September 1, 2018
Central Africa’s high volume subspecialty eye centre breaks another record
A record 405 patients were attended to in one day at the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute, MICEI! This was on Wednesday, 22nd August 2018 and included patients attending the general ophthalmology clinic as well as the retina, glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology, strabismus, cornea, oculoplastic, cataract and refractive surgery subspecialty clinics.
We wish to congratulate the MICEI team for their hard work and high sense of professionalism, providing compassionate eye care and surgery.
- 08 Mai 2023
CEREMONY FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT BETWEEN AFRICA EYE FOUNDATION (AEF) AND THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH (MINSANTE)
Africa Eye Foundation (AEF), a foreign association under Swiss law, in its activities to promote the fight against avoidable blindness in Central Africa, and more specifically in Cameroon, operates under framework agreements signed with the Ministry of External Relations and the Ministry of Public Health.
In pursuit of its missions, it was for this purpose that on Monday, May 8, 2023, at 3:00 PM, the Country Director of Africa Eye Foundation, Dr. Henry EBONG NKUMBE, accompanied by a delegation of his staff, was invited to the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon. The ceremony for the renewal of a framework agreement was presided over, governing the activities of patient care and training in the eye health sector, thus enabling AEF to continue its assistance to the populations of Cameroon and Africa.
It should be recalled that in February 2021, Africa Eye Foundation (AEF) renewed a framework agreement with the State of Cameroon through the Ministry of External Relations as part of its humanitarian activities.
➢ AEF’s First Project in Cameroon since 2017: An international reference hospital center named Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI), dedicated exclusively to the treatment of eye diseases.
Located 16 km from Yaoundé in the locality of Obak, Lekié Department, Central Region, the hospital was officially inaugurated on March 29, 2017, by His Excellency the Prime Minister, Head of Government, in the presence of several government members, heads of diplomatic missions, and international non-governmental agencies.
Over six years, Africa Eye Foundation, through MICEI, has consistently been at the forefront of the relentless fight against avoidable blindness in the Central African sub-region, particularly in Cameroon.
MICEI provides comprehensive, high-quality eye care services meeting national and international standards to all individuals, regardless of social class.
➢ Africa Eye Foundation’s Second Project in Cameroon: On February 11, 2023, with the support of the Founding President of Africa Eye Foundation, Professor Akef EL MAGHRABY:
Africa Eye Foundation officially launched a call for tenders for the construction of an International Training Center for Eye Health Professionals.
Additionally, more than 200 eye health professionals from 12 African countries have received training at MICEI. Each year, several fully funded scholarships for subspecialty training are offered by Africa Eye Foundation and its partners, ranging from ophthalmology specialists to ophthalmic equipment maintenance technicians.
This aligns with its goal of contributing to the improvement of human resources through training in all subspecialties of the eye health sector in Africa.
‼ VISIT BY MEMBERS OF THE AFRICA EYE FOUNDATION (AEF) BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MAGRABI ICO CAMEROON EYE INSTITUTE (MICEI)
On January 26, 2024, the AEF Board of Directors conducted an official visit to MICEI in Cameroon.
The Founding President of the Board, Dr. Akef EL Maghraby, represented by Professor Bruce Spivey, was accompanied by his counterparts Professor Serge Resnikoff, Dr. Rainer Brockhaus, Professor Soliman Aref, and Mr. Mohamed Zakaria—all members of the board and eminent figures involved in the global fight against blindness.
The objectives included: 1. Assessing on-site the outstanding performance of the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute hospital structure, which continues to exceed standards set by the World Health Organization, and congratulating certain staff members for their professional achievements. 2. Inaugurating the training simulation center where surgical trainees at MICEI practice, equipped with support from the France-based Théa Foundation. 3. Holding its first Board of Directors meeting in Africa, specifically in Cameroon.
It is worth noting that in six years, MICEI has remained at the forefront of the relentless fight against avoidable blindness in the Central African sub-region, particularly in Cameroon.
To date, MICEI has conducted over 330,778 consultations, of which more than 61,879 were entirely free through advanced community outreach programs targeting rural populations unable to travel to urban areas or afford eye care. Additionally, over 15,000 surgical operations have already been performed.
Meanwhile, more than 200 eye health professionals from 17 African countries have received subspecialty training at MICEI, ranging from ophthalmology specialists to ophthalmic equipment maintenance technicians and community eye health workers.
Training Programs Available at Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute:
- Fellowship in Vitreo-Retinal Surgery
- Fellowship in Medical Retina
- Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Residency in Ophthalmology
- Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS)
- Ophthalmic Operating Room Nursing
- Ophthalmic Equipment Maintenance
- Optical Techniques
- Refraction
- Eye Healthcare Facility Management
- Ocular Imaging (Glaucoma Option)
- Ocular Imaging (Retina Option)
- Pediatric Ophthalmic Anesthesia
- Orthoptics
- Low Vision
- Glaucoma Observation
- Medical Retina Observation
- Lasik Observation
This aligns with its goal of contributing to improving human resources through training in all subspecialties of the eye health sector in Africa.
