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PROVIDING EYE CARE IN THE HEART OF AFRICA
May 3, 2021
Second hand equipment can find a new life to improve healthcare all over the world and Canon Medical Systems Europe has many activities in that sense, including helping charities provide Eye Care in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Franco Sonnino, a long time Canon Medical distributor for Italy, explained how the company is helping him re use second hand material to improve Eye Care in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mozambique.
Franco Sonnino, a long time Canon Medical distributor for Italy, explained how the company is helping him re use second hand material to improve Eye Care in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mozambique.
Canon Medical autorefractor and tonometer have been deployed in the Mama Carla Clinic in Bangui Central Africa and Maputo in Mozambique to help preventing blindness and vision impairments.
This is all thanks to Franco Sonnino, founder and former CEO and President of FRASTEMA srl, a long time distributor for Canon Medical in Italy. For over three decades, Franco helped supply Canon technology in his country, but three years ago a project caught his attention and made him deeply reflect on his activities.
“I was very happy to do my job to develop and sell high quality products such as Canon’s, but the world was running too fast for me, with big evolutions in software, computer science and commercial issues,” he said. “I started to look for new ways to be useful and give a pleasant sense to the end of my life. By chance, I received a call from a non-governmental organization (NGO), inviting me to help build a refracting room and install ophthalmology instruments in Bangui. I said to myself: why not?”
This is all thanks to Franco Sonnino, founder and former CEO and President of FRASTEMA srl, a long time distributor for Canon Medical in Italy. For over three decades, Franco helped supply Canon technology in his country, but three years ago a project caught his attention and made him deeply reflect on his activities.
“I was very happy to do my job to develop and sell high quality products such as Canon’s, but the world was running too fast for me, with big evolutions in software, computer science and commercial issues,” he said. “I started to look for new ways to be useful and give a pleasant sense to the end of my life. By chance, I received a call from a non-governmental organization (NGO), inviting me to help build a refracting room and install ophthalmology instruments in Bangui. I said to myself: why not?”
Screening for glaucoma, cataract and HIV patients
Franco helps local ophthalmologists and opticians provide basic Eye Care, by collecting second hand equipment from former esteemed customers, including Canon.
The biggest emergency in CAR is to screen for glaucoma and cataract, two widespread diseases that can cause lower eyesight and blindness. In Mozambique, Eye Care instruments also help diagnose and manage HIV patients, which affects 60% of the population.
The biggest emergency in CAR is to screen for glaucoma and cataract, two widespread diseases that can cause lower eyesight and blindness. In Mozambique, Eye Care instruments also help diagnose and manage HIV patients, which affects 60% of the population.
Can HIV affect our eyes?
Yes. It can damage the eyes, causing pain and loss of vision. What are the symptoms? A person with HIV-related eye conditions may not have any symptoms until it gets worse. It is important to get yearly comprehensive eye exams or more often with a weakened immune system with an eye care professional.
“ The management of Canon Medical has always supported me in this nice adventure after my retirement from business.”
Franco Sonnino,
“With Canon Tonometer, we’re getting closer to our goal of screening as many people as possible for glaucoma and cataract.”
CEO and President of FRASTEMA ophthalmics srl,
Eye Care provider, Italy.
Biography
Franco Sonnino, born in Imperia on 17-5-1950 is the founder and former CEO and President of FRASTEMA ophthalmics srl, a leading Eye Care provider in Italy and one of Canon Medical’s key distributors in the country. For the past three years, Franco has helped Amici per il Centrafrica (Friends for CAR (Central African Republic)), a non governmental organization (NGO), to collect ophthalmology equipment and improve Eye Care in CAR and Mozambique.
Installing the equipment was a challenge at first, but the center is now running and helps makes a difference in local Eye Care. “The center is working well and we are consigning good quantities of glasses,” Franco explained.
The clinic in Bangui is equipped with a chair and a stand refracting unit, with chart projector slit lamp; all the before mentioned Canon Medical equipment; and other refraction instruments.
The addition of a Canon Tonometer has definitely improved screening capacities in both children and adults. “With Canon's Tonometer, we’re getting closer to our goal of screening as many people as possible for glaucoma and cataract,” he said.
The clinic in Bangui is equipped with a chair and a stand refracting unit, with chart projector slit lamp; all the before mentioned Canon Medical equipment; and other refraction instruments.
The addition of a Canon Tonometer has definitely improved screening capacities in both children and adults. “With Canon's Tonometer, we’re getting closer to our goal of screening as many people as possible for glaucoma and cataract,” he said.
Support is key
CAR and Mozambique have to be supported in just about anything to improve healthcare and alimentation. “People need everything, they have no public healthcare,” he said.
“They are starving while sitting on incredible natural resources like uranium, diamonds and gold. The World Food Program is doing many efforts in this direction, but it’s not enough.”
Local populations also need support in medical education and training, to help them diagnose and manage diseases locally. Prof. Yaya is the only ophthalmologist in CAR, and he is currently training five students in Bangui.
The work done by Franco Sonnino, local doctors and the Friends of CAR NGO adds another brick to the edifice. The involvement of prestigious medical companies like Canon Medical in such initiatives is an amazing asset, Franco believes.
“They are starving while sitting on incredible natural resources like uranium, diamonds and gold. The World Food Program is doing many efforts in this direction, but it’s not enough.”
Local populations also need support in medical education and training, to help them diagnose and manage diseases locally. Prof. Yaya is the only ophthalmologist in CAR, and he is currently training five students in Bangui.
The work done by Franco Sonnino, local doctors and the Friends of CAR NGO adds another brick to the edifice. The involvement of prestigious medical companies like Canon Medical in such initiatives is an amazing asset, Franco believes.
“The management of this wonderful company has always supported me in this nice adventure after my retirement from business.” he said. “I hope we can go on this fantastic cooperation.”
Franco will return to Bangui in February, to upgrade the mission and pediatric dispensary with new instruments and new staff for the clinic.
“We will do the maximum, but the way is still a long and winding road.”
Canon will sure continue to help him in that endeavor. //
Franco will return to Bangui in February, to upgrade the mission and pediatric dispensary with new instruments and new staff for the clinic.
“We will do the maximum, but the way is still a long and winding road.”
Canon will sure continue to help him in that endeavor. //
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