Training and research

CBM believe developing countries should have their own skilled specialists and infrastructure in place to enable them to help themselves in the long-term. With this in mind the main role of the CBM seconded co-workers is to train national specialists.

One of the training projects that CBM funds is in Tanzania, in the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa. The college was founded by a group of surgeons who wanted to encourage training and research in all branches of surgery. It awards membership and fellowship diplomas to surgeons who have undergone approved training courses and have satisfied the college's examiners.

Medical science can already prevent or cure the four main causes of blindness in the developing world. However, in order to make these treatments as effective as possible constant research is needed. For example, a child suffering from vitamin A deficiency may need two or three vitamin A supplements every year. However, if that child lives in a poor and remote area it may not have easy access to the medication.

In response to this problem Prof Allen Foster, CBM's medical director, has been assigned to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to research and implement medical strategies to combat blindness.