BCVI – The Little NGO That Could

“See those numbers there? I can see them much clearer now!” Mr Gareth Price, who has been living with Diabetes for more than 10 years, rejoices as he taps the keys on his flip phone.

For the past three years, Gareth’s vision has deteriorated rapidly due to Diabetic Retinopathy and although he was referred by the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI) for Vitrectomy Surgery, he was unable to afford the 500-mile journey to see the nearest Retinologist in Guatemala.

For more than 40 years, BCVI has been providing eye care for the people of Belize. What started out as a service for people who were blind, evolved into a national comprehensive programme. With support from organizations such as Sightsavers, PAHO/WHO and Lions Clubs International, BCVI introduced screening and treatment services for the leading causes of blindness in Belize, including the National Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and Treatment Programme supported by the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in 2017.

BCVI acquired three stationary retinal cameras and training on how to capture images, online training in grading images with the University of Gloucestershire and an OCT machine as well as a vehicle to increase our reach throughout the country. International volunteers provide laser treatment at BCVIs clinics countrywide. Patients needing vitrectomy are referred to a Retinal Specialist in Guatemala who has heavily subsidized rates for patients from Belize.

Referrals for Vitrectomy, which averaged at approximately five annually prior to 2020, totalled 30 in 2022. These numbers have since continued to rise as has the numbers of patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

In the past, the numbers could not justify the significant investment in equipment and supplies.

However, thanks to our dear friends in Scotland as the companies that supported them, after four years of planning, Dr Zac Koshy and Dr Lennox Webb volunteer Retinal Specialists from the UK implemented the first phase of Belize’s Vitrectomy Programme on September 21st, 2023 – Belize’s Independence Day!

While the country celebrated with parades and fireworks, the team at BCVI and the Scottish Duo performed 15 of the tertiary care surgeries as well as cataract surgery for four patients with severe retinopathy. This marked a historical moment for Belize’s eyecare service!

While it is an incredible feat for our small country and the “little NGO that could”, our journey continues, with a focus on education and prevention at the community level. With camera operators and trained graders on the ground, we see every day just how important the patient education is in the reduction of avoidable blindness. Although a limited number available, handheld cameras give us the opportunity to not only identify changes in the eyes, but are also used as a tool to physically show patients and family members the urgency of follow-up care, treatment and a healthy lifestyle. BCVI is currently working on equipping all clinics with these cameras to enhance the programme through early identification and intervention in our efforts to save the sight of many more Belizeans.