Courses and conferences

Certificate Course in Community Eye Health for VISION 2020 in South Africa
Date: August 1 - September 23, 2005.
This is the first course in Community Eye Health to be run in South Africa. It is being organised by Colin Cook in collaboration with the International Centre for Eye Health, LSHTM, London. The course will be held in the Division of Ophthalmology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa. The course will focus on how to implement VISION 2020 in sub-Saharan Africa. The course is aimed at eye health professionals working in the field of prevention of blindness, including national and district VISION 2020 coordinators, programme managers and clinical professionals working in VISION 2020 programmes. Further details: Please contact Dr Colin Cook (MYRNA@MWEB.CO.ZA)

Organizational & Financial Management to Achieve VISION 2020 in Africa
Date: November 7-18, 2005. Venue: Moshi, Tanzania.
A course offered by the Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology/Tumaini University (KCCO) in collaboration with The Fred Hollows Foundation, LAICO, and IAPB. Course objective: To provide practical (African-tested) strategies for developing or strengthening management systems to facilitate increased efficiency, coverage, and satisfaction with eye care services. Target audience: the heads and key decision makers of VISION 2020 planning areas. For more information and admission procedures please visit the KCCO website (www. kcco.net) or contact: Dr. Susan Lewallen (SLEWALLEN@KCCO.NET), KCCO, PO Box 2254, Moshi, Tanzania.

Bridging Communities and Eye Care Providers to Achieve VISION 2020 in Africa
Date: December 5-10, 2005. Venue: Moshi, Tanzania.
To meet VISION 2020 goals, developing and implementing better strategies for bridging communities and hospitals will be essential. This course will provide eye care programme managers with the skills necessary to develop, implement, and monitor strategies for increasing utilisation of services by the population in need. Target audience: Eye care programme managers (MoH, NGDO, service groups), trainers, and key decision makers of national prevention of blindness programmes. Course objective: To provide an understanding of activities necessary to increase utilisation of eye care services (primarily cataract, refractive error and trichiasis but also including childhood cataract and other conditions) by the population. For information and admission procedures please visit the KCCO website (www. kcco.net) or contact: Dr. Paul Courtright (PCOURTRIGHT@KCCO.NET) KCCO, PO Box 2254, Moshi, Tanzania.

Diploma Course in Community Eye Health
Date: February 20 - May 26, 2006.
This course is offered by ICEH at the LSHTM. The three month course is designed for those who want to know more about the major blinding eye diseases and the VISION 2020 initiative, but cannot be away from their place of work for one year. It is especially suitable for eye care professionals, ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic assistants, ophthalmic nurses, and project managers. The course is in three parts: part 1 focuses on the control of blinding eye diseases; part 2 deals with research and writing a project proposal; part 3 focuses on how to plan a VISION 2020 project. Further details: ADRIENNE.BURROUGH@LSHTM.AC.UK or www.iceh. org.uk; www.lshtm.ac.uk/courses ICEH, London Scool of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.

International Ophthalmic Nurses Association
Golden Jubilee Conference - 50 years of IONA
Date: April 7-8, 2006. Venue: London, UK.
A Celebration of Ophthalmic Nursing. Call for papers: Please submit an abstract of 500 words. Application forms for IONA membership and for conference are available from: Carol Bullock, 3 Montgomery Close, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 6NF. UK. to whom abstracts should also be sent. Email JOHN.BULLOCK@UNISONFREE.NET

World Ophthalmology Congress (Previously called ‘International Congress of Ophthalmology ICO’).
Date: February 19-24, 2006. Venue: Brazil.
The World Ophthalmology Congress will be held in conjunction with the XXVI Pan-American Congress of Ophthalmology and the XVII Brazilian Congress on Blindness Prevention. Information on the congress and on the committees, scientific programme and coordinators of different areas are available at the congress web site www.ophthalmology2006.com.br