Improving access to eye care education and service provision

in the Asia-Pacific region Gerhard Schlenther, Dr Neil Murray, Dr Garry Brian,

Dr Laurence Sullivan, Dr Mark F Ellis & Lauren Hodgson

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WHO Prevalence Data

Worldwide:

Asia Pacific:

284 million visually impaired

39 million blind 245 million low vision

73% of moderate to severe visual impairment

58% of blindness

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Contribute to the reduction in avoidable blindness and vision impairment by taking a role in ensuring high quality ophthalmic education and professional standards for eye care in the Asia-

Pacific region

RANZCO’s Goal

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• An online coordinating platform

• Harmonise activities and avoid duplication

• Funded through a grant from The Fred Hollows Foundation

International Ophthalmology Development Register (IODR)

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• Promote good practice guidelines for development projects in the Asia-Pacific region

• Promote Australasian teaching hospitals and institutions offering Fellowships / Observerships

• Provide access to RANZCO’s human resources• Facilitate RANZCO ophthalmologists involvement

 

IODR Benefits

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Methods

• Good practice guidelines systematic developmental approach

• Interactive database of development activities

• Inclusion criteria for, and oversight of databases: Fellows’ available skills and time INGO’s and training institutions seeking access

to RANZCO’s resources

• Filtering criteria that will only allow genuine enquiries

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Website Testing

Internal users: RANZCO Project Management Committee (PMC) RANZCO staff Chairs of the International Ophthalmology Steering

Committee (IOSC) and its sub-committees

External users: 31 individuals from various user groups

(Fellows, INGOs, Training Institutions, Hospitals, IMGs)

IODR went live on Friday 22 June 2012

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Results

User friendly, web-based database Up-to-date good practice development guidelines Capacity for enhanced participation of RANZCO

Fellows in sustainable development projects Informed planning and coordination Capacity for enhanced eye care education and

improved professional standards in the Asia Pacific region

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Activity to date….

IODR: 29 expressions of interest from Fellows 11 NGO users 1 NGO project 26 institutions 22 International Medical Graduate (IMG) users

RANZCO website visibility: >27,000 unique visitors so far this year >306,000 page views

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www.ranzco.edu/iodr

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IODR Coordinator: Lauren Hodgson IODRadmin@ranzco.edu

Contact details

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Conclusion

Early days …..

Collaborative contribution between RANZCO and The Fred Hollows Foundation will help achieve goals of Vision2020 and beyond

Thank You