Sheikh
Zayed Regional Eye Care Centre in Kanifing, under its regional ophthalmic
training programme, on Friday graduated eye health personnel.
The
graduates include students from various West African countries such as
Cameroun, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
Each
of them was awarded either Advanced Diploma in Ophthalmic Surgical Nursing
(ADSON), Advanced Diploma in Optometry Technician (OPTEC) or Diploma in
Ophthalmic Nursing (DON).
The
theme of this year’s graduation was ‘Vision 2020: The right to sight and human
resource development’.
The
regional ophthalmic training programme was aimed at reducing the global burden
of blindness, which currently affects an estimated 45 million people worldwide,
and to subsequently eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.
The
guest speaker of the occasion, Prof. Patricia Wade, lecturer and consultant
ophthalmologist and head of department at the University Jos Teaching Hospital,
Nigeria, congratulated the graduates for their efforts and handwork during the
course of the study.
“I
congratulate you for all the efforts you put in the past one year to come out
successfully in your examinations. Many
of you travelled through the length and breadth of Africa to achieve your
goals,” he said.
Madam
Isatou Jobe, senior optometrist, NEHP, said the training of eye health personnel
will avail the country more eye care experts who will contribute meaningfully
to the health sector.
She
advised the graduates not to rest on their laurels in looking for more
knowledge.
“The
journey of a thousand mile starts with one step; this is the starting of your
journey, always look to learn and develop yourself more,” she advised.
Mrs.
Jobe further commended the faculty members for the staunch support they offered
the graduates in their efforts to ensure a fruitful outcome.
“The
faculty members, I salute you all for a job well done despite all challenges,”
she said.
