The Bouamatou Foundation for the fight against blindness was created on 30 September 1998 (receipt no. 55 from the Ministry of the Interior of Posts and Telecommunications).
The various materials and medicines arrived at the ophthalmology hospital of the Bouamatou Foundation between December 2000 and May 2001, and they were installed and tested as they arrived, before the actual start of services.
The foundation's staff had access to the premises and materials from 15 July 2001 and, over a period of 10 days, became familiar with these materials and, above all, was able to learn about the tasks they were expected to accomplish by being introduced to the software (Axis Santé) that the hospital uses for medical management (consultations, complementary examinations, and surgical operations).
The actual start of services began on 24 July 2001 with the first consultation. The first surgical intervention took place on 24 July 2001 and concerned a cataract in a male patient, and the surgical program continued with one operating day per doctor per week.
During that same week, laser activities, automatic visual field, and angiography began.
The corrective glasses workshop distributed its first pair of glasses during August 2001.
The partnership agreement within the framework of the national Program to Fight Against Blindness between the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Bouamatou Foundation was signed on 29 October 2001.