Optometry Giving Sight

The establishment of a School of Optometry at Universidade Lúrio is the result of a new project co-funded by Optometry Giving Sight. Selected candidates from across the country have begun either the 3 year Optometry Technician course or the 5 year Optometry Degree which will provide them with the skills to help the millions of people in need of vision care in their local communities and surrounding areas.

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The DIT Optometry Students all agree that the trip was a life changing experience; they are grateful that they could help so many children and have a new found love of optometry.

DIT students have, and will continue to travel to Mozambique to assist with the Mozambique Eyecare Project, and work with students, and blind and vision impaired people in Mozambique.

“It was a life changing experience, watching people live their everyday lives in the poverty they have been subjected to; seeing them trying to build and develop the country and its economy, watching the University Lurio student’s eagerness and motivation to learn and become something great”, commented Orla Murphy. “It was a real eye opener, truly inspirational for all involved!”

Elaine O’Donoghue reflected: "My trip to Mozambique was the most influential and inspiring experience I've had to date. I feel so privileged to have had a part in. It was a great opportunity to see, and get involved with the fantastic work being done by great people."mozambique

“The UniLurio students were bright and enthusiastic and this transferred to us, the experience has really given us an appreciation for our skill and the differences we can make as optometrists,” said Fiona Murphy (pictured right).

What do UniLurio Optometry Students think of the Project?

“The course is important because Mozambique does not have Optometry graduates and we need to help our parents. We will be the first Optometrists in Mozambique, which is good. My primary objective is to help people who have problems. The people of Mozambique have lots of problems with vision and Optometry graduates will help to resolve these problems,” commented Suzete Guina.


*The Mozambique Eyecare Project involves partners from Lúrio University in Mozambique and the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), in collaboration with Dublin Institute of Technology and University of Ulster, which aims to address the problem of avoidable blindness in Mozambique, Lusophone Africa and across developing nations.

The project is joint funded by Irish Aid, Dublin Institute of Technology, ICEE, Optometry Giving Sight and UniLurio.

The Eyecare Project, with the help of the partners mentioned above, is establishing Mozambique’s first Optometry School in Universidade Lúrio, Nampula, Mozambique.

Currently, there are 60 optometry students enrolled in the program and the initial student intake has just entered into Year Three of the four year degree. In addition, there are currently five postgraduate students investigating various aspects of the Project, with a further three students engaged in the registration process. The program is being delivered by the three full time faculty, with additional faculty being recruited based on program needs.

Background:

Students of Optometry in Mozambique will be the direct beneficiaries of a $CA25,000 grant from the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) International Development Grant.  The CIP Program is administered by the Alberta Government Culture and Community Spirit and it supports humanitarian projecmozambiquets in developing countries and countries in transition.

This $25,000 grant will be matched by Optometry Giving Sight with $25,000 of Alberta donations from optometrists and their patients and the total $50,000 amount will be used to support the Regional Lusophone Optometry School in Nampula, Mozambique.

This will enable much needed equipment to be purchased for the newly established School and to provide clinical training and assessment for the students.
The School aims to recruit a minimum of 16 students per year for the next 5 years in a multi entry / exit style program that will see students being offered the choice of a 3 or 5 year qualification that will enable them to practice in the public health sector.

The prospect of 80 new health professionals within 5 years will have a great impact on the quality of life for tens of thousands of people in Mozambique and the region. It is currently estimated that 30% of the population of 21 million have no access to health services of any kind and only 50% have an acceptable level of health care. There are currently only 13 ophthalmologists and even fewer optometrists and dispensing opticians in the country.

The Mozambique Eyecare Project aims to train Mozambique’s first professional optometrists and optometry technicians to provide a sustainable and comprehensive eye care system as an integral part of the national health system. It is an Irish Aid funded initiative, involving partners from Lúrio University in Mozambique and the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), in collaboration with Dublin Institute of Technology and University of Ulster.