KHI Ophtalmology Dpt

It's all possible

Department’s mission statement

The department’s mission is drawn from that of KHI and is to train ophthalmic clinical officers (OCOs) who are capable of providing appropriate preventive, curative, rehabilitative and promotive eye care services and delivery to individuals and communities in Rwanda. OCOs will work with other eye care personnel in implementation of VISION 2020, the right to sight, so as to achieve the common goal of eliminating preventable and treatable blindness among individuals in communities. Trained ophthalmic paramedical staff are virtually lacking in Rwanda hence the programme is geared to closing this gap.

Goals for the community

The primary goal of the training programme is to improve the health status of individuals and communities by providing accessible and quality eye care services. This requires training of OCOs who are safe and competent practitioners. By performing community diagnosis the OCO’s will be able to:
1. Identify groups in communities with high levels of ocular diseases and plan intervention strategies
2. Provide home care and follow up care to patients and care givers
3. Utilise Information, Education & Communication (IEC) strategies to maintain healthy environments, health promotion and prevention of blindness
4. Identify those with untreated illness and impairment /disabilities and refer them for services
7. Set up community networks for the delivery of eye care services
8. Mobilise and sensitise communities about causes and prevention of blindness
9. Screen for high risk individuals like the under five for vitamin A deficiency, elderly for cataracts etc
10.To participate and assist in outreach surgery
11 Plan, implement and evaluate community eye programmes with full participation of community members
12. Train community health workers about eye diseases and their control
13.Collect data on community health issues, analyse and disseminate information

The Department of Ophthalmology at KHI had its first intake of ophthalmic clinical officer trainees in April 2004. A total of 22 have graduated since then and the number is going to be increased in future.
The training takes three years and graduates upon qualification are awarded advanced diploma in clinical ophthalmology. The training programme is sponsored by Christoffel Blindenmission (CBM).The department works closely with the technical bureau of CBM and the National plan of the control of blindness(PNLC) in the Ministry of health.

Community programmes

sea, the beaches An educational programme should be designed to solve the community health problems of the people it is meant to serve. In Rwanda, community eye programmes, services and personnel are insufficient to meet the demanding needs of individuals. Plans are underway to make OCO training a community- based educational programme .Community diagnosis will be performed where the learners will be able to screen for ophthalmic conditions, do community education on prevention of avoidable blindness including the benefits of vitamin A and measles vaccination among others. Groups of individuals at high risks of ocular trauma like the welders, chemical factory workers will be targeted for IEC. At present, students are participating in Outreach Surgery and screening in up country hospitals as part of their clinical training. A team of ophthalmologists and other eye care personnel train the students during the outreach.

Research
The department of ophthalmology is fully committed to undertake health research and use existing health data for evidence based practice and to strengthen community eye health services. Plans are underway for modalities of conducting research at different levels of health systems and the community. Our priorities will be focused on:
1.Collection and analysis of data for use in delivery of eye care services, training programme and curriculum, management and evaluation of eye care projects/programmes.
2.Engaging and participating in ophthalmology research and disseminate information and knowledge of best practice
3.Using the information to target the most vulnerable groups in the community that desperately need urgent eye care services.

Department’s strategic plan.

This is aimed at making OCO training a programme for excellence in academics and skills development to attain the betterment of health of the Rwandan population.
The following activities are planned:
1. Increase enrolment of OCO trainees to meet the eye care needs of the Rwandan population.
2. Train other middle level cadres to meet shortage of personnel in eye care service
3. Train academic staff to run the ophthalmic training programme
4. Monitor and continuously review the curriculum to meet the real needs of the people
5. Develop a curriculum for specialised courses in ophthalmology at Diploma and degree level
6. Design a curriculum that is integrated and community based
7. Implement community out reach in collaboration with the National Plan for the Control of Blindness (PNLC) and other stakeholders.
8. Provide comprehensive eye care services through school health programmes
9. Advocate for integration of VISION 2020, the right to sight, in school curricula
10. Establish institutional collaboration with ophthalmic training institutions in the region for exchange programmes and orientation of our students for practicum. Initial contacts have been made between Kilimanjaro Centre For Community Ophthalmology in Qrusha Tanzania and Ruharo eye Department in Mbarara Uganda.
11. Implement short course training in ophthalmic care in collaboration with CEFOCK
12.Organise and facilitate training of trainers for community eye care providers
13.Organise national and regional conferences on ophthalmic care and service delivery
14.Facilitate the establishment of OCOs associations and draft regulations of practice to submit to authorities concerned
15 Undertake research.