In Uganda, progress has moved ahead in training local eye care professionals since ICEE first established a presence in 2008 and initiated a two phase project through the National Intervention on Uncorrected Refractive Errors(uncorrected vision impairment), a four year programme spanning the years 2008-2012.
Through this collaboration ICEE currently trains ophthalmic clinical officers in refraction (optometry skills) as well as spectacles technicians. To date this project has trained a total of 38 ophthalmic clinical officers and three spectacle technicians. Each of the 38 qualified officers have been provided with a refraction set so they can offer eye care services in the various hospitals countrywide where they work.
This year final preparations to open the optometry school continued, taking the project to phase two scheduled to start in September 2012.
Research studies into vision impairment figures and prevalence, called Rapid Assessments of Refractive Errors were conducted in Uganda, as well as Eritrea, Tanzania, and Ghana. The results of these surveys give ICEE statistics to quantify the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness, while also establishing a baseline against which to measure the impact of the eye care programmes once developed and running. The results gathered are also used to influence in-country policies during planning for eye care services.
Funders:
Partners:
- Uganda Ministries of Health
- Department of Education
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