Des connaissances qui inspirent l’action. Des outils qui soutiennent le changement.

Resources

At KCCO, we believe that sharing practical knowledge is just as powerful as delivering care.
Our growing resource library supports eye care professionals, program managers, policymakers, researchers and educators across Africa with tools designed to strengthen systems, train teams and scale sustainable impact.

Whether you’re developing a national plan, launching a hospital program, or conducting training in remote areas. These resources are built to inform and empower your work.

Community Eye Health

Cataract – what is it?

This document explains cataracts in simple terms, describing it as a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which leads to decreased vision—similar to looking through a dirty window. It outlines common causes such as aging, trauma, congenital factors, diabetes, and smoking. The document emphasizes that cataract is treatable through a safe and effective surgical procedure where the cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial one. It also details the post-operative care and the importance of follow-up to ensure optimal recovery and vision restoration.

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Microfinance and Health

This review from the explores the evidence supporting task-shifting in eye care, specifically the training and use of non-physician cataract surgeons (NPCS) to address cataract-related blindness in Sub-Saharan Africa. Given the shortage and poor distribution of ophthalmologists, NPCS (often clinical officers or ophthalmic nurses with additional training) have been deployed in several countries to increase access to cataract surgery. The report analyzes their effectiveness, quality of surgical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and productivity, with case studies from Kenya, The Gambia, Tanzania, Malawi, and Ghana. While the evidence shows that NPCS can deliver high-quality surgeries, particularly when well-trained, supervised, and supported, issues such as post-training deployment, resource availability, and systemic health barriers remain challenges. The review concludes that while NPCS are not a universal solution, they are a viable strategy in underserved areas and should be integrated thoughtfully into national eye health programs.

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Task-shifting: Ophthalmologist to Non physician cataract surgeon: A review of the evidence

This in-depth review, prepared by the Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO), explores the concept of task-shifting in eye care — specifically the training and utilization of non-physician cataract surgeons (NPCS) to address the shortage of ophthalmologists in sub-Saharan Africa. The report presents evidence on the effectiveness, quality, productivity, and acceptance of NPCS based on studies and data from countries including Kenya, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi, and Ghana. Findings show that NPCS can deliver acceptable surgical outcomes, especially when trained well, supervised, and supported by strong health systems. However, challenges remain with post-training support, rural deployment, regulatory frameworks, and overall system capacity. The report concludes that while NPCS are a practical solution in some contexts, they must be integrated into well-supported eye health programs to be effective and sustainable.

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Africa Assistive Devices Azithromycin Behavior change Cécité Blindness Prevention Capacity Building Cataract Cataract Blindness Cataract in children Cataract Services Cataract surgeons Cataract Surgery Childhood Blindness Community Eye Care Community Eye Health Community health Community Ophthalmology Community outreach Diabetic Retinopathy District Health Planning District Planning Eastern Africa Environmental improvement Eye Care Eye Care Access Eye Disease Awareness Eye Health Eyelid Surgery Eye Screening Facial cleanliness Glaucoma Global health Global health meeting Healthcare Innovation Health Education Health Policy Health Systems Health System Strengthening Health workforce HIV/AIDS ICTC Inclusive Education Infectious diseases KCCO KCMC KCMC Hospital Key informants Kiswahili Low Vision Low Vision Services Madagascar Mass drug administration Micro-planning Monitoring and Evaluation Neglected Tropical Diseases Non-Physician Cataract Surgeons NPCS NTD programs Onchocerciasis Ophthalmic Nurses Ophthalmology Outreach Services Soins oculaires pédiatriques Preventable Blindness Primary Eye Care Public Health Public Health Planning Referral systems Refractive Error Refractive errors Rehabilitation Rural healthcare Rural Health Services SAFE strategy Service Delivery Sub-Saharan Africa Surgery quality Surgical Outcomes Surgical productivity Surgical Training Tanzania Tanzania conference Task Shifting Trachoma Élimination du trachome Trachomatous trichiasis Traditional medicine Trichiasis Trichiasis management Trichiasis Surgery Tropical ophthalmology TT Surgery Vision 2020 Vision Care Vision Loss Visual Impairment Vitamin A deficiency WHO Zithromax planning