2022 – PICA Medical Program in Cote D’ivoire

Location:Treichville Hospital, Abidjan, Cote d’IvoireTerm of Cooperation: 
February 24 – March 3, 2022
Implementing Organizations: Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA), Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH), Palestinian Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire, Eversight Eye Bank.  SDG: 
Background: In 2018, the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency conducted a medical mission at the Cocody hospital in Abidjan, which included transferring the Palestinian knowledge in the ophthalmology field. During the mission, several eye disorders were identified and as a result, a research has been conducted by our experts to assess the medical needs of the ophthalmology field in Cote d’Ivoire. We realized that corneal disorders are one of the main challenges in that field; therefore, PICA planned a mission to transfer the Palestinian expertise in the cornea transplant field in cooperation with the Eversight eye bank, which committed to donate 20 corneas to serve the purpose of this mission.  
Purpose: 
Outputs: 1- PICA surgeons conducted 20 cornea transplant surgeries.
2- Performed 45 medical screenings and examinations to choose the patients for the surgeries.
3- Conducted several lectures about the “Techniques of Cornea Transplant Surgeries” to the doctors at the Ophthalmology department.
4- Providing medical consultations to the doctors at the Ophthalmology department during the mission.  
Activities: 1- Conducting technical visits to the Trechville hospital to prepare for the surgeries.
2- Meetings with the Director General of the Trechvill hospital and the medical crew.
3- Opening ceremony and a press conference to launch the program.
4- Follow up medical checkups after the surgeries were conducted to all the patients in order to monitor their medical status.
5- Closing ceremony and a press conference to conclude the program. 
Working Framework: Technical Cooperation- Enhancing Bilateral South-South cooperation through transferring the Palestinian knowledge in the medical field to the support the Health sector in Cote d’Ivoire.  
Beneficiaries: The Republic of Cote d’Ivoire
Trechville Hospital