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Issue no: 2 Date: 19 December 2014
The African Vision Research Institute is proud to
announce the launch of the African Vision and
Eye Health journal, formerly
. The new name of the Journal more
accurately reflects the scope and nature of the
published research. This is a joint venture of the
African Vision Research Institute, the South
African Optometric Association and the African
Council of Ophthalmology. The African Vision
and Eye Health journal publishes original
peer-reviewed papers of scientific and clinical
research in optometry, ophthalmology, vision
science and other related fields.
Read more...
Call for papers.
Website
Annual Student Reviews and Capacity
Building Workshop 2014
Twenty postgraduate ophthalmology and
optometry students from around Africa gathered
from 29 July - 01 August 2014 to review and
debate the research topics that form the basis
of their post-graduate qualifications, and which
will eventually lead the way in changing eye
health practices on the African continent.
Read more...
The impact of uncorrected refractive error
The African Vision Research Institute has been
commissioned by the Vision Impact Institute
(VII) to conduct systematic reviews and make
available information in a user friendly manner
to create greater awareness, to support
advocacy efforts aimed at increasing investment
in eye health programs through providing
impact data.
Read more...
2014 Publications
The African Vision Research Institute has
published 13 research articles.
To access the published articles, please click on
the link below:
2014 Articles...
India Vision Institute's ( IVI) Biostatistics
and Scientific Writing Workshop 2014
IVI organized a three day "
Biostatistics and
Scientific Writing workshop" in collaboration
with the African Vision Research Institute, which
took place on 29 - 31 October 2014. Mr Farai
Chinanayi and Dr Jyoti Jaggernath from AVRI
facilitated the workshop held at IVI Hyderabad.
Read more...
Dr Angela Ofeibia Amedo was appointed as the first optometrist to head the department of
Optometry and Visual Science in 2007, a position she still occupies at the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology. She holds a Doctorate in Optometry, PhD Vision
Sciences, Masters in Vision Sciences, PG Diploma (Optometry), and a BSc. (Hons) Biological
Sciences.
Over the years, Dr Amedo has and continues to serve as external examiner for other
optometry programs, Assessor and reviewer for some journals and an Adjunct Professor at the
University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has attended and presented at several national, regional and
international conferences, including IACLE, ARVO, AAO, WCRE, WCOE, AFCO among several
others. As one of the pioneering and leading optometrists in Ghana, she serves on several
committees for the profession and on the national level,she is the first and current Chair of the
Allied health Professions Council, charged with the regulation of some thirteen professions and
also serve as a member of the Ghana Health Service Council.
Awards won include a 3 month IACLE Fellowship in 1998 to study Contact Lens in South Africa, Soroptimist International
Travel grant, Vision Science Graduate Fellowship for my PhD, American Academy of Optometry and ARVO Travel grants
and most recently, in July 2011 she participated in the Global Health Effectiveness Program at Harvard University with
partial sponsorship from a United States Embassy Grant.
Areas of specialization:( i) Teaching; Binocular Vision, and Human Visual Perception and Community Eye Health. (ii)
Research; Refractive Error Studies in Children, Development of Optometric Education in Africa, Eye care services in
Ghana, and Epidemiology of refractive error in Ghana.
Dr Angela Amedo has published seven journal articles.
Zaheera Abdool's Masters research was a descriptive study titled "
. The purpose of the study was to determine the current eye/
health care practitioners in the eThekwini district in screening DR, their current knowledge and
attitudes towards managing DR and to recommend an appropriate strategy to manage DR
in the DHS based on the stakeholders perspective.
The study established that a program for detecting, referring and managing DR can be
developed, especially since most stakeholders are familiar with ocular screening methods and
are willing to support an outreach program for DR. However, teamwork, training and the
provision of the necessary human and physical resources is required to implement a
comprehensive DR screening program. This will require assistance of clinical managers and
operational managers to motivate for and provide the necessary resources (staff, equipment
and training) and support of higher authorities (district and provincial managers) to approve the
appropriate protocols for the management of DR in the DHS of KwaZulu-Natal.
According to Zaheera, her experience working on her Masters was challenging, but rewarding. As a part-time student, the
personal challenge was juggling work and household chores, while simultaneously trying to carve out time to draw up
protocols. She would like to thank the participants in the study, the AVRI team for assistance with statistical analysis,
editing and administration; and she extends a special appreciation to her supervisors Dr Linda Visser and Prof Kovin Naidoo
for their academic guidance and motivation.
Clement Afari's research was inspired by the absence of a baseline vision impairment study in
the Ashanti region, which justified the need to determine the prevalence and causes of vision
impairment with particular emphasis on uncorrected refractive error ( URE ) in Ashanti region,
Ghana.
The findings of this study show a response/participation rate of 91.5%; mean age of 46.29 (CI
95% 45.29-47.29) and a prevalence of vision impairment as 16.15% ( n = 210, 95% CI, 14.15 18.16). Uncorrected refractive error was identified as the leading cause (47.14%, n = 99, 95%
CI of 40.33 - 53.9) of vision impairment in the region, followed closely by cataract.
According to Clement, "
".
As a family man, a student, a lecturer and a volunteer, Clement says good time management was inevitable for the
completion of his Masters study. Two ethical approvals, one from the University of KwaZulu -Natal and one from his home
country, were a requirement for this study. The complexity in satisfying the two ethics committees was very exhausting.
Above all, the skill and insight gained is not only rewarding, but it serves as a backbone for future PhD pursuit. Clement
wishes wish to express his profound gratitude to his supervisors Prof Kovin Naidoo and Dr Angela Amedo for making time
for the project even in difficult situations.
The National Research Foundation ( NRF) for South Africa rates academics and researchers
based on their research outputs and publications. It is a stringent process to receive a rating
and only a minority of academics in South Africa have been rated. Having bypassed a "C
rating", the AVRI CEO, Prof Kovin Naidoo, was directly rated as a "B" Scientist. This means that
he is
NRF rating is a prestigious accolade as it is a profile decided by national and international
peers/reviewers who are requested to critically scrutinize the completed research.
African Vision Research Institute
172 Umbilo Road
Durban,4001
South Africa
Tel: +27 31 202 3811
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.avri.co.za