“Massification”
– A New Approach for Southern Africa
Optometry Giving Sight has been invited to support the implementation of a new strategy
for ensuring that people in the Southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi,
Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe receive access to affordable and sustainable
refractive error and low vision services.
The newly-created human resource, educational and deployment solution for Southern Africa aims to dramatically increase the numbers of people in the region who are being trained and given gainful employment within existing health and educational structures. It has been developed by Professor Kovin Naidoo from our implementing partner, the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), in conjunction with Sightsavers International, CBM, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and in-country partners. Kovin has dubbed this process “massification”.
The first part of the strategy will see the development of a regional School of Optometry in Malawi, which will offer two levels of training in a multiple entry / exit model. The aim is to provide maximum employment and career opportunities for people being trained, while ensuring that people relying on the public health sector are the beneficiaries.
This will be achieved by providing a 2-year mid-level eye care diploma for Optometric Technicians (OTs), providing skills in refraction and primary eye care. Select graduates from the 2-year programme will then be allowed to register for the full 4-year programme, after a 1-year practical internship at a public health facility. All OTs will be licensed only to practice within the public sector and will be deployed to Health District venues which include rural and municipal clinics, community health centres and district hospitals which serve the majority of citizens. Those completing the 4-year programme will be deployed to regional and provincial hospitals. This project has already been supported by Optometry Giving Sight with funds provided by the Norwegian Optometric Association.
The second part will see the development of a “campaign style” approach to providing immediate
service delivery to children aged 11-15 in Zambia and Malawi. This project will supercede the previous project being funded by Optometry Giving Sight in East Africa called Giving Sight to Blind Children.
Adapted from a presentation delivered by Professor Kovin Naidoo, ICEE Global Director, at the World Council of
Optometry’s Globalisation Conference in London on 13 April, 2008.
