OCO Programme (Ophthalmic Clinical Officers )
Candidates for this course are senior six leavers who have passed RNEC certificate of nursing or paramedical sciences. Mature entrants holding the named qualifications are also admitted for thraining.
The training takes three years and graduates upon qualification are awarded advanced diploma in clinical ophthalmology.
OCO training programme goals
The goal of ophthalmic clinical officers training programme is to empower the learners to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to:
Increase awareness among Rwandans about blindness as a public health issue
Demonstrate competence in prevention of avoidable blindness
Demonstrate competence in screening, diagnosing, treating, making appropriate specialised care referrals, managing and follow up care
Demonstrate competence in education and counselling of patients/clients with ocular problems
Assist the ophthalmologist at the outpatient, inpatient & operation theatre
Undertake initiative and participatory roles in development and management of eye care programmes
Appreciate the benefits of partnership work with all parties involved in national prevention of blindness geared towards the achievement of vision 2020 global initiative
Maintain the highest standards of ethical and professional practice and strive for scholarship development.
COURSES
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LEVEL 2 |
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SEMESTER 1 |
| |
Common subjects (220 hrs) |
| PHAR GS 12 |
Pharmacology i |
| PUBL GS 12 |
Public Health |
| BIOST GS 12 |
Biostatistics and Epidemiology |
| RESM GS 12 |
Research Methodology |
| COMS GS 12 |
Communication skills |
| COML GS 12 |
Computer literacy ii |
| |
Professional subjects (350 hrs) |
| PLCO090203 |
Pathology of lids, conjunctiva, cornea & lacrymal system |
| REER090203 |
Refractive errors |
| CGUO090503 |
Uveitis,Glaucoma,Cataract |
| PHAR090202 |
Ocular Pharmacology |
| ORBT 090302 |
Orbital diseases,Ocular trauma |
| CTOV09404 |
Childhood blindness, Trachoma, Onchocerciasis, |
| |
Vision 2020-Right to sight |
| MANG090302 |
Management and Evaluation of eye programmes |
| |
& Primary Eye care |
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SEMESTER II |
| ROSD090203 |
Retina,Ocular manifestations of systemic diseases |
| NOPT090104 |
Neuro-ophthalmology &Strabismus |
| SURT090503 |
Surgical theory |
| |
S/T |
| STAG090104 |
Stages (Clinicals) |
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Total /year |
| |
LEVEL 3 |
| |
SEMESTER 1 |
| |
Common subjects (120 hrs) |
| QUAA GS 12 |
Quality Assurance |
| MANG GS 12 |
Management |
| COML GS 12 |
Computer literacy |
| |
Professional subjects (50hrs) |
| LVRE090205 |
Low Vision and rehabilitation |
| EECP090106 |
Ocular Pharmacoloy |
| |
S/T |
| STAG090105 |
Stages (Clinicals) |
| |
SEMESTER II |
| STAG090106 |
Stages (Clinicals) |
Curriculum review plans
The department’s philosophy is that curriculum is dynamic, hence, it should be flexible to accommodate the rapidly changing environment and allow the learners the opportunity for experiential learning. Beginning with the 2008 academic year, the reviewed curriculum is being implemented.
Clinical placement plans
The training of OCOs is practice based and requires lengthy exposure to patients and clients in different settings. A clinical site with sufficient equipment, clients and personnel is a model for clinical training. This is the criterion upon which the placement sites are selected so that our students come out with best practices. Unfortunately most health facilities do not meet the conditions mentioned above, hence students are sent to few centres. It is hoped that students will also be placed in local private clinics and regional health facilities for clinical teaching. The department will ensure that more instructors to facilitate the teaching are made available.
Student carrier Development
The process of teaching and learning should be conducive to the student’s carrier development. Different methods that facilitate effective transfer of knowledge and skills have to be applied and the needs of the learners should be accounted for. In this context the department monitors closely how the teaching process goes on in different environments of exposure, and intervenes whenever needed. Services of guidance are also offered to the learners and they are reminded to display professionalism at all times.
COURSES
| |
LEVEL 1 |
| |
SEMESTER 1 |
| CODE |
Common subjects (480 hrs) |
| CLPSY GS 11 |
Clinical Psychology |
| CVED GS 11 |
Civic Education |
| |
Language (continuing) |
| BIOC GS 11 |
Biochemestry |
| PARA GS 11 |
Parasitology |
| SIOC GS 11 |
Sociology |
| DVTP GS11 |
general microbiology |
| GENMIC GS 11 |
medical ethics |
| CIVE GS 11 |
anatomy i (and physiology) |
| FIRSA GS 11 |
first aid |
| |
introduction to computer and use of library |
| GENMIC GS 11 |
Microbiology |
| MEDE GS 11 |
Medical Ethics |
| ANATO GS 11 |
Anatomy i (and Physiology) |
| FIRSA GS 11 |
First aid |
| INTCL GS 11 |
Introduction to Computer and use of Library |
| GNUR GS 11 |
General Nursing |
| OPTC090402 |
Optics (professional subject) |
| |
SEMESTER II |
| |
Professional subjects (180 hrs) |
| ANAT090401 |
Applied Anatomy |
| ONUR090302 |
Opthalmic Nursing care and procedures |
| IOCP090202 |
Introduction to ocular pathology |
| CEXE090402 |
Clinical examination of the eye |
| |
S/T |
| STAG090102 |
Stages (Clinicals) |
