New staff member at SightReachSurgical

Adminstrative Assistant, Leaticia Nguiandem joins IEF's expanding

SightReachSurgical (SRS) program.

Program Director William Shields, in announcing this new position, said that "SightReach Surgical provides quality products from a trusted source at affordable prices" and that he and program assistant Rowan Burke are "delighted to have Leaticia on board. SRS now provides services in 145 countries so with the addition of Leaticia to the staff, I will be able to spend more time on the growing consultancy services side of SRS".

Ms. Nguiandem was born in Cameroon, but has lived in the US since she was 9 years old and was educated here. She is fluent in French which is an added benefit to IEF and its international partners.

Onchocerciasis Treatment Continues in Cameroon.

IEF supported the treatment of 802,351 persons with Mectizan® during 2008 in two Provinces in Cameroon, reports Mr. Patrice Nkwelle, IEF’s Project Director in Cameroon.

With the generous support of the Mectizan® Donation Program (MDP), the Lions SightFirst Program, the Lions Coalition, Cameroon, and the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), over 1.1 million persons living in hyper and meso-endemic communities in Adamaoua Province in the north and South Province in the south are targeted for annual treatment with Mectizan®.

During May and June, 802,351 persons living in 3,330 communities received over 2.27 million Mectizan® tablets through a network of 6,672 Community Directed Distributors (CDDs). Each Province has achieved 100% geographic coverage and an average therapeutic coverage level (total population at risk) of 72%. Among the population at risk and eligible to receive treatment, the coverage level averaged 87% for both Provinces. Adamaoua Province has finished its 10th and South Province its 5th annual distribution cycle under the APOC Programme. Congratulations to Patrice and his dedicated team and to the Lions Coalition Cameroon for their continued dedication and hard work!

John Barrows

June 2009