NEWS AND NOTICES

News and notices

News

Introducing the new Editor of the Community Eye Health Journal

I have great pleasure in introducing you to the new Editor of the Community Eye Health Journal.

Elmien Wolvaardt Ellison is a science graduate with extensive experience of print and broadcast journalism and specialist expertise in science communication. Prior to joining the Community Eye Health Journal she worked with the Science Media Centre and the Science and Development Network (SciDev.Net). Before that she worked for the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) where she was Editor of MRC News and supported MRC researchers to communicate their research to policy makers, the public, and the media. She is currently involved in a British Council-funded project in South Africa developing training for health workers in evidence-informed decision making for HIV prevention, treatment, and care.

From me, Victoria Francis, it is a farewell which comes with a message of real appreciation for the contribution all of you, our readers, make to the lives of people. Preserving and restoring sight, and making sure that those who live without clear vision reach their full potential, is truly worthwhile work. Not only that: working in community health brings you into touch with health workers, patients, families, community organisations, and policy makers, all of whom it is in your power to inspire and support. As Editor of the Community Eye Health Journal since September 2004, I have tried to make a modest contribution to your efforts, and I am ever humbled by the reports I receive from you, describing the realities of your work. Furthermore, I have been guided and assisted by your feedback, in particular by the insights we received through the reader survey. I take this opportunity also to express my pleasure at working creatively with the authors who generously give their time, experience, and expertise to communicate with our readers through the medium of this publication. I wish you all well in your continuing endeavours and extend a warm welcome to Elmien.

Le saviez-vous ?

Nous publions également une revue en français, la Revue de Santé Oculaire Communautaire, qui est envoyée gratuitement aux lecteurs des pays en développement. Pour vous abonner, merci de bien vouloir faire parvenir votre nom, votre profession et votre adresse postale à : Anita Shah, Revue de Santé Oculaire Communautaire, International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, Royaume-Uni. Courriel : Anita.Shah@Lshtm.ac.uk

Courses

International Centre for Eye Health

MSc in Community Eye Health
Date: 20 September, 2007-19 September, 2008. Venue: The International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 8 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3RE, UK. Objectives: To equip eye health professionals with the knowledge and skills to reduce blindness and visual disability by developing a community-oriented approach to eye health and the control of blindness, in line with the aims and objectives of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight. Target audience: Eye care professionals (including ophthalmologists, optometrists, and project managers) who have or could have leadership roles either within their governments or in the NGO sector. This course does not include any clinical training and is not appropriate for people wanting training in clinical ophthalmology. Scholarships: Please contact Emma Sydenham (emma.sydenham@Lshtm. ac.uk) for assistance with securing funding from your home country to cover part of the course fee. Further details and admission procedures: Applications for this course are available on the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine website: http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/prospectus/masters/msceh.html and through contact with the Registry, 50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP, UK. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7299 4646 Fax: +44 (0)20 7323 0638 Email: registry@Lshtm.ac.uk

Planning for VISION 2020
Date: 9-13 July, 2007. Venue: ICEH at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP, UK. Objective: To familiarise participants with the goals and objectives of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight and the planning principles involved in establishing community eye health programmes. In addition to lectures about eye diseases and programme planning, participants will work in teams to develop a model for eye care interventions in their selected regions. Target audience: Ophthalmologists and eye health organisation programme managers involved in the drive to eradicate all treatable blindness globally by the year 2020. Information and admission procedures: Visit the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine website: www.Lshtm.ac.uk/prospectus/short/spv.html or email ShortCourses@Lshtm.ac.uk

Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Opthalmology (KCCO), Tanzania

Information and admission procedures for all courses listed below: visit the KCCO website (www.kcco.net) or contact Genes Mng’anya, KCCO Course Administrator. Email: genes@kcco.net

Integrating Childhood Cataract into VISION 2020 Programmes
Date: 1-5 October, 2007. Objective: To provide an understanding of the various strategies needed to improve uptake, counselling, surgery, follow-up, spectacles, and low vision care of children with congenital/developmental cataract. Target audience: Ophthalmologists or managers in settings with paediatric eye care services or programme staff responsible for organising childhood blindness activities.

Community Ophthalmology Certificate
Date: 15 October-7 December, 2007. Objective: To equip eye health professionals with the skills necessary to develop, implement, and manage a VISION 2020 programme. These include disease control, planning, human resource development, management, bridging strategies, and budgeting. Target audience: Ophthalmologists, project managers, or other eye care professionals who are responsible for developing and implementing district-based VISION 2020 plans.

Bridging Communities and Eye Care Providers to Achieve VISION 2020 in Africa
Date: 12-16 November, 2007. Objective: To 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 (government, NGOs, service groups), trainers, and key decision makers of national prevention of blindness programmes.

Management for VISION 2020 Programme Managers
Date: 19-30 November, 2007. Objective: To provide practical (African-tested) strategies for either developing or strengthening management systems to facilitate increased efficiency, coverage, and satisfaction with eye care services. Target audience: Heads and key decision makers of VISION 2020 planning areas.

Conferences

The European Society of Ophthalmic Nurses and Technicians Annual Conference will be held during the 25th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), 8-12 September 2007, in Stockholm, Sweden. Further information: Email: sarah.smith@escrs.org

Eighth General Assembly of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
Theme: Excellence and Equity in Eye Care. Date: September 15-20, 2008. Venue: Los Salones Gran Panamericano, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Further information: Email: agency@lvpei.org

New resources available

Enquiries: Sue Stevens (sue.stevens@Lshtm.ac.uk)

Francis V and Wiafe B. The Healthy Eyes Activity Book. 2nd edition
The Healthy Eyes Activity Book was first published ten years ago. The authors, Victoria Francis (educationist, social researcher, and artist) and Boateng Wiafe (ophthalmologist), have built on the success of the book and acknowledged its wider appeal. Originally intended mostly for primary schools in rural Africa, the book has reached a wider audience, with translations in at least nine languages, largely through the efforts of SIGHT AND LIFE. The second edition takes cognisance of this wider appeal and has ‘internationalised’ the context, while still encouraging people to further adapt it to their needs and circumstances. Furthermore, this second edition expands on some areas that were not covered in detail in the first edition: there is a chapter devoted to nutrition and a chapter devoted to refractive errors. The section on ‘How to adapt and translate this book’ has been expanded to further promote adaptation of the material so that the stories reflect children’s realities. Available free of charge to low- and middle-income countries, UK £5 otherwise.

Prozesky D, Stevens S, and Hubley J. Effective teaching and learning for eye health workers
A 56-page booklet with content adapted from a series on teaching eye health in the Community Eye Health Journal, plus updated and additional material. The aim of this text is to stimulate readers to become more effective teachers. Available free of charge to low- and middle-income countries, UK £5 otherwise.

Two posters

Eye injury/trauma: primary level management and Red eye - no injury: primary level management.
Available free of charge to low- and middle-income countries, UK £3 each otherwise.