Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach
BICO is a Blantyre-based charitable NGO operating eye clinics across six districts in Malawi, delivering affordable and free eye care while implementing donor-funded programmes for trachoma elimination, onchocerciasis control, child blindness prevention, and neglected tropical disease research.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersBlantyre, Malawi
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach does
Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach (BICO) is a Malawi-registered charitable NGO founded in 2008 and headquartered in Blantyre, operating eye clinics and optical centres across six districts (Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Lilongwe, Mzuzu). Its core service line is community eye health delivery — eye testing, prescription glasses (including premium bifocal/progressive/MAR lenses), low-vision devices, cataract surgery referral, and workplace/mobile screening — offered on a tiered pricing basis ranging from free services for children under 10 and adults over 70 (the latter funded via donations from OUI Inc Japan) through to cash purchases and medical-scheme reimbursements.
Beyond clinic operations, BICO implements a portfolio of donor-funded public health programmes targeting neglected tropical diseases and child eye health. These include the Malawi Onchocerciasis Control Programme (Mass Drug Administration across 8 endemic districts reaching over 2 million people), the Trachoma Elimination Project (SAFE strategy across 15 districts, funded by Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust), the Gates Foundation-funded Deworm3 and MORDOR research studies in Mangochi District, the USAID Child Blindness Project (78,635 children screened, 804 eyeglasses dispensed, 502 teachers trained), and the WILDE GANZEN Low Vision Project. The organisation also runs the HIV/AIDS Caregivers Support Groups Digital Health Project in partnership with the University of Sheffield.
BICO operates through a partner-led model rather than direct implementation: primary partners are the Malawi Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, supplemented by international sub-contracts with NGOs (Sightsavers, CBM, KCCO), academic institutions (LSHTM, University of Washington, University of Sheffield), and government donors (USAID, DFID/FCDO). BICO is a member of the International Coalition for Trachoma Control. Revenue is a hybrid of optical retail/clinic receipts and project grants from private foundations, bilateral aid agencies, and international NGOs; financial figures are not publicly disclosed.
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach
- Legal name
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach
- Website
- https://bicomalawi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BICO is a Blantyre-based charitable NGO operating eye clinics across six districts in Malawi, delivering affordable and free eye care while implementing donor-funded programmes for trachoma elimination, onchocerciasis control, child blindness prevention, and neglected tropical disease research.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Eye Health and Neglected Tropical Disease Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (45613), Offices of Physicians (6211)
- SIC
- Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN)
Keywords
Where Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Blantyre
- HQ country
- Malawi
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices6 records
Markets served
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Eye Care Services and Optical Sales: BICO operates eye clinics and optical centers offering eye tests, glasses, optical devices, and related services. Revenue generated through sale of glasses and acceptance of medical schemes.
- Grants and Donations: BICO receives project grants from various private and public organizations to fund implementation of eye health and neglected tropical disease programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Affordable eyeglasses for general population |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium lens options |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free services for children under 10 |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free reading glasses for elderly |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Discounted services for children and adults |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BICO operates eye clinics and optical centres across six Malawian districts, providing eye tests, prescription glasses, optical devices, cataract surgeries, low vision services, and blood pressure/sugar screening. Alongside clinical services, it implements public health programs targeting neglected tropical diseases (trachoma, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis) through Mass Drug Administration, school and community screening, teacher training, and operational research.
Product overview
BICO is a community health NGO providing healthcare services rather than a technology product company. Its core offering consists of eye clinics and optical centers across six locations in Malawi, complemented by public health programs targeting neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) including trachoma, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and schistosomiasis. The organization operates eye health service delivery alongside research programs such as the Deworm3 study and MORDOR study, child blindness prevention initiatives, and low vision rehabilitation services. BICO also implements a digital health project for HIV/AIDS caregiver support groups. All programs are implemented through partnerships with the Malawi Ministry of Health and Education, international NGOs, and academic institutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Eye Clinic and Optical Services Network of eye clinics and optical centres across six Malawian districts offering computerized eye testing, prescription glasses, optical devices, cataract surgeries, and blood pressure and blood sugar screening; serves individual patients with tiered pricing and accepts medical schemes.
- Malawi Onchocerciasis Control Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 55 patients regained sight through cataract surgery programme
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.
- KCCO (Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology)coreFunded the Vision 2020 Eye Care Programme for South East Health Zone (2014-2016) across 6 districts. Key technical partner in community ophthalmology
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicinecoreAcademic partner for Deworm3 project, Mordor Study, and research collaboration. BICO is ORCID affiliated with researchers from this institution
- Ministry of Health MalawicorePrimary government partner for implementation of eye health programs, neglected tropical disease control, and health system strengthening
- Ministry of Education MalawicoreGovernment partner for school-based eye screening programs and teacher training for child eye health
- International Coalition for Trachoma ControlcoreBICO is a member of this global alliance of international NGOs committed to elimination of blinding Trachoma worldwide
- Task Force for Global Health / COR NTDmoderatePartnership through Children Without Worms (CWW) program for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis control
- Crown Agents UKmoderateInternational procurement and supply chain organization supporting NTD program implementation
- University of Washington School of Global HealthmoderateAcademic partner for Deworm3 project research collaboration
- ZambartmoderateResearch partner in Female Genital Schistosomiasis study assessing barriers women face in accessing FGS healthcare services in Mangochi District
- University of SheffieldmoderateAcademic partner implementing HIV/AIDS Caregivers Support Groups Digital Health Project in Mangochi District
- Namwera AIDS Coordinating CommitteeminorLocal partner for HIV and COVID-19 health information digital health program implementation
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Orbis International: Global eye health nonprofit running the Flying Eye Hospital and country programs focused on training and cataract/trachoma work; comparable to BICO in mission and target diseases, but at significantly larger scale.
- Sightsavers: International NGO working on avoidable blindness and NTDs across Africa and Asia; directly comparable to BICO as a current donor/partner and as a broader incumbent in the same Malawi-based eye health and trachoma elimination space.
- Helen Keller International: Global health NGO working on NTDs (including trachoma and onchocerciasis) and child survival; partner-like peer given shared SAFE strategy and MDA delivery in Malawi-adjacent geographies.
- CBM (Christoffel Blindenmission): Global disability and eye health organization funding inclusive eye care, rehabilitation, and NTD programs in low-income countries; direct peer given BICO's listing as a CBM partner and overlapping mandate on child blindness and disability.
- Fred Hollows Foundation: International eye health NGO operating across Africa and the Indo-Pacific, focusing on cataract, trachoma, and refractive error; directly comparable to BICO's portfolio of clinic-based and NTD elimination work.
Others
- Wilde Ganzen: Dutch development NGO funding low-vision and child blindness projects in Malawi; comparable as a funding/partner entity supporting the same low-vision work BICO delivers in Mzuzu.
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM): Academic research partner co-implementing Deworm3 and MORDOR studies with BICO; not a delivery peer but a directly comparable research operator in Malawi NTD/eye health evidence generation.
- Task Force for Global Health / COR-NTD: Coordination and program support hub for NTD implementation; partner of BICO via Children Without Worms and broadly comparable as an NTD delivery ecosystem player.
Regional players
- Blantyre Malaria Project: Malawi-based health research and implementation NGO; comparable as a locally rooted NGO implementing donor-funded global health research and programs in the same Blantyre ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO): Community ophthalmology capacity-building organization that funded BICO's Vision 2020 programme; highly comparable as a sub-Saharan African eye-health NGO with similar target population and clinical focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach social profiles
Digital presenceBlantyre Institute For Community Outreach financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach
What does Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach do?
BICO operates eye clinics and optical centres across six Malawian districts, providing eye tests, prescription glasses, optical devices, cataract surgeries, low vision services, and blood pressure/sugar screening. Alongside clinical services, it implements public health programs targeting neglected tropical diseases (trachoma, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis) through Mass Drug Administration, school and community screening, teacher training, and operational research.
Is Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach a public or private company?
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach founded?
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach based?
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach is headquartered in Blantyre, Malawi, in the Africa region.
How does Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Eye Care Services and Optical Sales are the primary driver. The others are grants and Donations.
Who are Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Orbis International, Sightsavers, Helen Keller International, CBM (Christoffel Blindenmission) and Fred Hollows Foundation. Others are Wilde Ganzen, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Task Force for Global Health / COR-NTD. Blantyre Malaria Project is listed as a regional player. Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO) is listed as a direct peer.
Does Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach.
What industry is Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach in?
Blantyre Institute For Community Outreach's product category is Community Eye Health and Neglected Tropical Disease Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAB, Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care), with a secondary code of HLAKAKAA, Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care. Its NAICS code is 62132 and its SIC code is 8011.