EASTERN AFRICA COLLEGE OF OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Kenneth KagameEACO President

EAC O

Topic

Residency training; a case for EACO

EAC OWhat is EACO ?

EACO is a virtual college which started in 2005 as an association of 5 residency training programmes in East Africa, namely; Uganda -Makerere

-Mbarara Tanzania -Muhimbili, Dar -KCMC, Moshi Kenya -NairobiCurrently draws its membership from eight countries

including: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Ethiopia and Zambia

Its Mission

‘to increase the numbers of

ophthalmologists and improve the

quality of eye care in EA’ through;

EAC OMain objectives

-Training… residents, CPDs, subspecialisation

-Research, for evidence based policy and practice

-Infrastructure devt; physical and equipment

-Set standards for professional ophthalmic practice

-Contribute to health policy development

EAC OWhy was it formed ?

Professors. Klauss, Abiose, Ogada did an evaluation of Ophthalmology Residency programs in East Africa and found that;

1. Training of Ophthalmologists unsatisfactory in quantity and quality

2. Skeleton or less than skeleton faculty, lecturers

3. lecturers needed further training, subspecialisation

4. Poorly equipped, (teaching aids, clinic and theatre )

5. Inadequate library, print and electronic

WHO/PBL/98.71

EAC ORecommendations

The report recommended:A harmonised curriculum for Eastern AfricaImprove academic capacity of teaching staff,

Subspecialisation Emphasis on quantity and quality of researchEnhanced partnerships of NGOs & others with

National govts to support training; Develop links with other training institutions in more

resourced regions around the globe

EACO is part of the response

EAC OWhat we have achieved

Organizational development – EACO has institutionalized effectively

Subspecialisation and skills enhancement for several faculty members

Scholarships for residentsWe are supporting several big and

quality eye health research projects in EA

Established links with universities and College in the North, especially UK- RCOphth, Bristol, Birmingham, Royal Free, St Thomas. And Munichen

EAC O

Quality of training Residents

We have a curriculum of EACO which all residency programs have used as a template for their local curriculum

Harmonised examination formatExchange of lecturers, and examiners Material support for residents (e.g. books, equip)Exchange of residents, rotations to sister UnivA Fellowship examination;

-once a year , still voluntary

Increasing number of ResidentsFull Residency sponsorship x 3Partial support to Residents x 30Residents graduating annually from the 5

Universities increased from less than 10 to 30 by 2012

We believe we have contributed significantly by

-advocacy – raised profile of ophthalmology

-enhanced attractive programs -scholarships

Training trainers, lecturersLink program with RCOphth , UK: -Curriculum development -Trained examiners for the local Fellowship -CPD standardisation and accreditation -Attended each others Fellowship exams as

observerLink program to UK University Hospitals; -short term visitsLink to India….Aravind and LV Prasad -for skills enhancement for the faculty

We are exploring possibilities of transforming this trilateral arrangement into a full fellowship course

Infrastructure Development Procured equipment for

each of the 5 DeptsReference books for

individuals and librariesConstruction -just completed a

Dept block for Mbarara -plans ready for

Makerere, Nairobi and Muhimbili

ResearchTrained researchers (Residents and Academic

staff) at several workshops in collaboration with AVRI

Currently sponsoring 6 ongoing research projects, Including one on ‘Why are young doctors not choosing Ophthalmology for PG studies’

We are looking for international seasoned researchers for collaboration

To mentor our young researchersTo bring in resources

Our medium to long term wish/objective isFor our citizens to have access to QUALITY EYE

CAREAll our ophthalmology residents to qualify with

our FELLOWSHIPFellowship to obtain international accreditationFEACO to be the exit exam to practice in our

RegionEach of our Depts to establish itself as a Centre of

Excellence in its chosen subspecialty field, eg Retina, etc for service and training

Enhanced collaboration between Govts, and other developmental partners in resource mobilisatiion for training

Functional South to South, and South to North Links

More sharing resources between our Universities

Acknowledgement to those who have seen us thru infancy

-Sight Savers-Light For the World-OEU-CBM-MEACO/PBU, -European Union

-FHF, -RCOphth, UK-AVRI, -LVPEI- Aravind,

-and others.

Thank you for listening!