WORLD SIGHT DAY 2014-counting down...

 The World Sight Day 2014 is around the corner. Optometrists around the world are encouraged to use this day to draw awareness to the burden of avoidable blindness.

With the year's theme as ''No more Avoidable Blindness,'' October 9th, 2014 should be a day that the public will know about the importance of eye care and the remedies available for certain eye problems. Thus, rallies-walk for sight, public lectures, free eye screening, talk shows as well as blind folding of statues and celebrities will make the day to create more impact.
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NOA Appoints Administrator for the National Secretariat

Dr. Eugene Ifeanyi has been appointed as Administrator  of the Nigeria Optometric Association(NOA), National Secretariat. His Official working hours at the Secretariat is 9am to 4.30pm Mondays to Fridays.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: He is responsible for a range of activities that are central to implementation of the NOA’s strategic plan in providing high quality and effective services. Specific duties include, but are not limited to: Supporting the Executive Council of NOA and all committees of the NOA in implementing a range of projects and programs, and in policy review and development and implementation of business process improvements across the organization.

He is to undertake the role of Project Coordinator for agreed projects to ensure that project plans are agreed prior to commencement that required actions are taken on a timely basis and that progress is monitored and reported. He will also assist the President in undertaking research and preparation of reports as required as well as assisting with policy development processes including research and updates and maintaining the central policy register for the organization as a whole.

Maintaining the NOA central committee register, ensuring that actions required are addressed by relevant committees on a timely basis. Managing queries and processing correspondence in relation to actions from minutes of meetings, and assisting with bulk mail outs and e-mails and letters as required. Work with the President and Legal counsel to track legislation and advocate on issues pertinent to optometry during the legislative session at the National Assembly-are part of the administrators duties.

Other responsibilities include; work with the advocacy committee to develop, organize, promote and execute “Optometry’s Day at the National Assembly.” Assist State Chairmen through the VP’s with organizing and promoting State meetings and events. Network with key personnel, including but not limited to, State Chairmen, in order to State Chairmen, in order to establish mutually beneficial relationships and influence NOA’s standing in the optometric community for assigned zone. General record keeping and filing amongst others. His  work is majorly to give NOA the desired outlook through a well organized secretariat .

Dr. Eugene Ifeanyi,  fondly called Eugenius, hails from Njaba Local government Area of Imo state. He studied Optometry at the prestigious, Abia State University, Uturu. He confounded and drafted the APPON (Association of Private Practicing Optometrists of Nigeria), profile and constitution he is averse with policy development and advocacy. He was a one time, Personal Assistant to a Local Government  council Boss, Business Development/Administrative Manager, at Isle of Care Medical Centre, Abuja. He was once a PDP aspirant for Imo state House of Assembly, and currently the PDP community leader in his LGA, Njaba in Imo State. He is strong willed and always at the forefront of matters relating to optometry. He was nominated as Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Corporate Administration in 2012. His appointment is to bring in innovative ideas and programs, that will help pivot optometry to greater heights. Dr Eugene Ifeanyi E., is married with two kids.

Earlier on NOA had advertised for the position of an Administrator; seeking for a suitably qualified and dynamic Optometrist with a great insight in secretarial work to fill the position.
The Official phone numbers for NOA Secretariat: 08050261775 08128532806 contact the Administrator Administartor@noanigeria.org

TANZANIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION TO HOLD ITS CONFERENCE/AGM

The  Tanzania Optometric Association is to hold its annual conference, AGM  and scientific sessions from 2nd October. Tanzania is one of the new countries that Optometry is gradually gaining grounds. Earlier on the Nigerian Optometric Association(NOA)  had held its own AGM/Conference followed by South African Optometric Association(SAOA). See details:

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR ABUJA INTERNS

Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) ABUJA 2014 interns will be having their last CPD for the year at Wuse General Hospital on Saturday 27th September.
Topic: Optical Coherence Tomography OCT (procedure and printout interpretation).
TIme, 2pm.
Note: Participants are expected to come with their clinic overalls(ward coat).

Other State chapters are highly encouraged to follow the Abuja model.N/B
States are to send in their report at the end of the event to the public health committee, through their respective Vice Presidents (VP), for assessment.

The report should include a detailed preparation for the event, activities, evidence of activities carried out in form of pictures or video.
An award will be given to the best performing state for this programme.
*Do bear with me, for using this information channel, as this is the only medium am disposed to at the moment.

Thanks
Dr Eugene I.E.
For; Public Health Committee NOA
On behalf of NOA National

 

LAGOS STATE TO HOLD A CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Lagos State Continuing Education series October - 2014.
Theme: The Business of Eye Care: Putting Patients at the Center.
Date: Friday, 10th October
Venue: Samak Hall, Plot CL2 ikosi road, Oregun. Opposite diamond bank. Very close to Daystar Christian Center. Ikosi.
Time: 8.00am...
Fee: 5,000 Naira only.
Pay into NOA Lagos Ecobank Account 0042017694 before 30th of September 2014.

SAOA marks its 2014 Optometry Conference, SAOAConnex14 in Style

South African Optometric Association(SAOA) recently marked its SAOA Connex14. The event which included scientific presentations, product exhibitions and cocktail party was held in Cape Town at the International Convention Centre. This conference was of world class standard, with extensive lectures presented by leading industry experts.

The 2014 South African Optometric Association Coference Expo Connections(SAOA Connex 14) which took place between 13th to 15th August, was an opportunity for Optometrists in South Africa and beyond to formally and informally share with colleagues, meet long last seen friends and gain the full quota of CPD points for the year. Optometrists were informed on the latest developments in our profession by world-renowned speakers at the prestigious Cape Town, International Conference Centre. Interestingly, 2014 is the 90th anniversary of the SAOA.

Exhibition stand

The President of SAOA Dr.Nina Kriel, welcomed all the delegates and reassured them that they will have a fulfilling time at the conference and in Cape Town.

Part of attractions at the cocktail party was a lucky dip, in which Kgaogelo Mosana whose ticket was drawn by Sam Dalais emerged as the lucky winner of the trip to Silmo in Paris.

The speakers at the event included Prof. Nathan Efron amongst others. Nathan Efron, lectures extensively world-wide, particularly in the field of the ocular response to contact lens wear, and has published over 800 scientific papers, abstracts and textbook chapters, and has written/edited 7 books that have appeared in a total of 15 editions and foreign translations. His most recent title is 'Contact Lens Complications, 3rd Edition' (Elsevier, 2012). Professor Efron has won a number of prestigious international awards, including the 'Contribution to Optics' award (Optician, UK, 1997), the British Contact Lens Association's Dallos Award (1992) and Gold Medal (2001), the Peter Abel Award (Association of German Contact Lens Specialists, 2000), and the American Academy of Optometry's Garland W Clay Award (1980), Max Schapero Award (2003) and Glenn A Fry Award (2010).

Group entertains at the cocktail party

The exhibitors included Zeiss Group, Optimax, Coopervision SA, Optimag, Optimxa amongst others.

While Nigeria leads with the highest number of Optometrists in Africa, South Africa leads in terms of  practice standards and infrastructure.

The winner of the lucky dip Kgaogelo Mosana , receives his ticket to Silmo in Paris.

A collaborative and integrated eye care model in optometry is now the norm across Canada

 

Considering the current challenges in the Nigerian health sector, there is need for Optometrists to learn to do more. This would make Optometrists more relevant. At the same time, the need for more collaboration with Ophthalmologists and other health care professionals cannot be over emphasized. This could be achieved in the public sector through advocacy. Already, there are such models in the private sector and there is a need for more.

 

IRIS the Visual Group is delighted that as of April 15th, Ontario residents will enjoy increased options for eye care services. Following the approval of new regulations for optometrists by the government ofOntario, a collaborative and integrated eye care model in optometry will be the norm across Canada. IRIS has been supporting this model across Canada for over 25 years, with over 500 Optometrists, Opticians and Ophthalmologists collaborating under the same brand to provide Canadians with the best vision care. “Today is a historic day for our industry that will allow all Ontarians to have better eye health and long-term vision for years to come,” says Dr. Francis Jean, Optometrist and IRIS President. “I am proud to say that IRIS has been a key stakeholder in helping all Canadians experience better vision,” he adds. IRIS played a key role in initiating these regulatory changes while providing the government with insight about the benefits of collaboration between eye care professionals. In 2008, a group of IRIS and independent optometrists formed the Coalition of Ontario Optometrists for Reform (COOR) to contest the rules and regulations of optometry in the province at the time. IRIS collaborated with both the College of Optometrists of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Optometrists to help achieve this milestone for eye care in the province. These new regulations will significantly modernize the practice of optometry in Ontario. By enabling optometrists, opticians and ophthalmologists to work closely together, higher standard of eye care for patients can be ensured. This is because solutions and treatments for issues related to corrective lenses, pathology and other eye conditions can be approached in a collaborative manner with the patient. Furthermore, the new regulations will facilitate access to prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses as well as provide patients with greater choice and convenience when seeking vision care. Supported by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council, this integrated model helps doctors build an optometric practice that offer patients a wide range of professional services in addition to eye examinations under one roof. “I am passionate about elevating eye care to a level of reverence and value in society,” says Dr. Daryan Angle, Executive Vice President at IRIS, “This is why I am very proud to have collaborated on the advancement of the practice of optometry inOntario. It is my belief that this will improve the quality of vision care for Ontarians,” he adds. IRIS the Visual Group operates 163 stores across Canada, of which 14 are located in Ontario. The company also runs two laser surgery centres (one in Quebec and one in Langley, British Columbia). Every IRIS location gives patients access to: eye health and vision examinations; treatment of certain eye diseases; contact lens fittings; eyewear adjustments binocular vision evaluation as well as consultations for laser vision correction. These services are all provided under the care of an Optometrist and/or a licensed Optician working together to provide the best solutions. Patients can choose from a wide selection of frames, sunglasses and eyewear accessories with the assistance of a team of professionals to help them find the best option to match their face shape and lifestyle so they can experience better vision. The company plans to continue expanding its network across the country, including in Ontario Source:The IRIS visual group NOTE: The story of IRIS The Visual Group began in 1986 when Dr. Francis Jean opened his first Optometry practice in his hometown of Baie-Comeau, Quebec. Dr. Francis Jean then founded a buying group, engaging several like-minded Optometrists that adopted the IRIS trademark in 1990. Since 1990, IRIS has established itself as the most important branded group of Optometrists, Opticians and Ophthalmologists dedicated to improving the vision health standards of Canadians. Over the last 25 years, IRIS the Visual Group has become the largest network of eye care professionals in Canada. Thanks to a distinctive concept and commitment to highest quality products and services, IRIS has managed to differentiate itself in the eyecare industry.