THE BOUAMATOU FOUNDATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH PNLC AND ITI, LAUNCHES THE ANNUAL 2014 CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT TRACHOMA IN MAURITANIA 1. Objectives of the campaign: The Bouamatou Foundation, through its annual anti-trachoma campaigns, travels throughout Mauritania and the sub-regions to meet, screen, and treat populations that are too far from the foundation's ophthalmologic hospital and have too limited access to care. For over 13 years, the Bouamatou Foundation has provided free ophthalmological care to needy populations in Mauritania, as well as in neighboring countries such as Mali and Niger.
The goal of the 2014 campaign is to: - Reach out to Mauritanian populations to conduct prevention work - Screen for and eliminate trachoma - Operate on identified cases of trichiasis directly on site thanks to the mobile medical team
2. Composition of the mobile medical units 12 mobile medical units from the Bouamatou Foundation are deployed to the regions, meaning 12 vehicles each with 3 people: 1 driver, 1 nurse, and 1 navigator. The large number of mobile units allows for coverage of a larger geographic area and to meet and treat as many patients as possible.
3. Medical equipment The mobile medical units are equipped with care kits that allow trachoma to be treated directly on site. They include: - Azithromycin antibiotic (Syrup and Tablet) - Tetracycline ointment 1%
4. Planned dates and regions in 2014 The annual 2014 screening campaign will be conducted in the following regions: - Adrar: in February (campaign already successfully completed) - Tagant: in March (campaign ongoing) - Trarza: in April - Brakna: in May
5. The Bouamatou Foundation The Bouamatou Foundation was created on September 30, 1998, thanks to Mohamed Ould Bouamatou, who wanted to make essential health care accessible to the underprivileged populations of his country. Due to his commitment and contribution, the Ophthalmologic Hospital of the Foundation opened its doors on July 24, 2001. Since then, the foundation has provided free eye care, as well as pediatrics and surgery, thanks to the most recent technological equipment. The Bouamatou Foundation trains national and foreign general practitioners and state nurses in the specialization of ophthalmologist and ophthalmology technician. To prevent, care, train, and educate: these are the missions of the Bouamatou Foundation that make it one of the key players in Public Health in Mauritania.
