Book Review

Childhood cataract in Africa. Courtright P, Bowman R, Gilbert C, Lewallen S, van Dijk K, and Yorston D (editors). 2008. Reviewed by J Nick Astbury, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY UK.

This is quite simply a brilliant manual, beautifully illustrated and written by people immersed in the ethos of community eye health and with first-hand experience of dealing with childhood cataract in Africa. It incorporates the conclusions and recommendations from a meeting of experts that took place at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania and it covers planning and strategies as well as pre- and postoperative management, counselling, and rehabilitation. Dark & Light Blind Care (Netherlands) must be congratulated for sponsoring this work which should be read by everybody involved with childhood cataract, including parents, health workers, and ophthalmologists. To order this book, go to www.kcco.net or contact: Teaching Aids at Low Cost (TALC), PO Box 49, St Albans, Herts, AL1 5TX, UK.
Tel: +44 1727 853869
Email: info@talcuk.org
Website: www.talcuk.org

Courses

International Centre for Eye Health, London, UK

Planning for VISION 2020, 29 June to 3 July 2009. Target audience: Non-clinical course aimed at ophthalmologists, eye health programme managers, and NGDO staff working in developing countries. Cost: UK £735

Tropical ophthalmology, 28-30 October 2009. Target audience: Ophthalmologists and optometrists in the UK, Europe, or North America. Cost: UK £490

NEW Community ear and hearing health in developing countries, 29 June to 3 July 2009. Target audience: Otologists, audiologists, paediatricians, allied professionals, especially in the communication sciences, health planners and NGDO staff who intend to work in a developing country. Cost: UK £750

Application forms for these three short courses can be obtained from: The Registry, 50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP, UK.
Tel: +44 207 299 4648
Email: shortcourses@Lshtm.ac.uk
Website: www.iceh.org.uk

MSc in community eye health, 28 September 2009–17 September 2010 Target audience: Health care professionals involved in eye care who have relevant work experience. Duration: One year (full time). Also available on a part-time basis over two years. Cost: UK £15,150 (Overseas) or UK £4,815 (Home). For more information: Application forms are available from The Registry, 50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP, UK.
Tel: +44 207 299 4646
Email: registry@Lshtm.ac.uk or MScCEH@Lshtm.ac.uk
Website: www.lshtm.ac.uk/courses. Please quote Ref: JCEH

University of Cape Town, South Africa

Postgraduate diploma in community eye health
Start date: January 2010.
Target audience: National VISION 2020 coordinators and district VISION 2020 programme managers who wish to receive training in the management of district VISION 2020 programmes. Course structure: One-year course, comprising an initial ten weeks on campus, then 34 weeks off campus when the student is back working in his/her health district, and a final two weeks on campus. Closing date: 30 October 2009.
Course fee: ZAR 35,000 (US $3,500). Recommended living expenses for 12 weeks in Cape Town ZAR 24,000 (US $2,400), plus travel to and from Cape Town.
For more information: Contact Deon Minnies at d.minnies@uct.ac.za

Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO), Tanzania

All courses are held by KCCO in collaboration with Dark & Light Blind Care, Seva Foundation, and The Fred Hollows Foundation. Venue: KCCO, Moshi, Tanzania. For more information: Visit www.kcco.net or contact Genes Mng'anya at genes@kcco.net

Addressing the challenges of childhood cataract in Africa, 21–24 September 2009 Target audience: Ophthalmologists or managers in settings with paediatric eye care services or programme staff responsible for organising childhood blindness activities.

Bridging communities and eye care providers to achieve VISION 2020 in Africa, 9–13 November 2009 Target audience: Eye care programme managers, trainers, and key decision makers of national prevention of blindness programmes.

Management for VISION 2020 programme managers,16–27 November 2009

Target audience: Programme managers and key decision makers of VISION 2020 planning areas.

The cataract surgery case mix study: establishing the preoperative visual acuity of cataract patients worldwide

The International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) is asking ophthalmologists from all over the world to become part of a research network.

In the network's first study, we would like to detail the variation in preoperative vision of patients undergoing cataract surgery in different countries. This information is essential when planning effective VISION 2020 programmes to eliminate cataract blindness.

We will be asking network members to record preoperative visual acuity on 100 consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery. The study is anticipated to start in 2009.

Anyone who takes part in the study will be acknowledged in the resulting publication.

If you or your institution would like some more information on how to get involved please contact either: Dr Shaheen Shah shaheen.shah@Lshtm.ac.uk or Dr Robert Lindfield robert.lindfield@Lshtm.ac.uk