Experts unite to fight poor eye products
Jun 12, 2007
The Government has assured optometrists that it will recognise the Optometrists Association of Uganda (OAU) and that steps are underway to regularise this profession, the commissioner for clinical services, Dr. Jacinto Amandwa, has said.
By Vision Reporter
The Government has assured optometrists that it will recognise the Optometrists Association of Uganda (OAU) and that steps are underway to regularise this profession, the commissioner for clinical services, Dr. Jacinto Amandwa, has said.
This was during the launch of the OAU at Hotel Africana in Kampala, recently.
Optometrists are primary health care practitioners, professionally trained and licensed to examine human eyes for visual defects, diagnose problems or impairments and prescribe corrective lenses or provide other types of treatment.
The chairman of the association, Anguyo Dralega, said there are very few trained optometrists in Uganda and all are trained abroad.
“Optometry has yet to be recognised as a profession in Uganda. There are no regulations to govern the operations of optical shops or vet the qualification of anybody who comes into Uganda claiming to be an optometrist,†he said.
Dr. Naume Nsubuga, the representative of the African Council of Optometry (AFCO), said OAU was awarded membership to AFCO in July last year and asked to host AFCO in Uganda in 2008.
The chief guest, Prof. George B Kirya, the chairperson of the Health Service Commission, said most people take sight for granted, give it little attention and do not take regular check-ups.
He decried the absence of standards for vetting optometric appliances.
“As a result, potentially sight-damaging products are availed on the market, without anyone stopping them.â€
He urged the association to find ways of stopping fake apparatus, mis-diagnoses and mistreatment.
“This should be done as soon as possible since the experts in this profession have come together not only in Uganda, but worldwide, to set up the Uganda Optometrist Association,†Kirya said.
The Government has assured optometrists that it will recognise the Optometrists Association of Uganda (OAU) and that steps are underway to regularise this profession, the commissioner for clinical services, Dr. Jacinto Amandwa, has said.
This was during the launch of the OAU at Hotel Africana in Kampala, recently.
Optometrists are primary health care practitioners, professionally trained and licensed to examine human eyes for visual defects, diagnose problems or impairments and prescribe corrective lenses or provide other types of treatment.
The chairman of the association, Anguyo Dralega, said there are very few trained optometrists in Uganda and all are trained abroad.
“Optometry has yet to be recognised as a profession in Uganda. There are no regulations to govern the operations of optical shops or vet the qualification of anybody who comes into Uganda claiming to be an optometrist,†he said.
Dr. Naume Nsubuga, the representative of the African Council of Optometry (AFCO), said OAU was awarded membership to AFCO in July last year and asked to host AFCO in Uganda in 2008.
The chief guest, Prof. George B Kirya, the chairperson of the Health Service Commission, said most people take sight for granted, give it little attention and do not take regular check-ups.
He decried the absence of standards for vetting optometric appliances.
“As a result, potentially sight-damaging products are availed on the market, without anyone stopping them.â€
He urged the association to find ways of stopping fake apparatus, mis-diagnoses and mistreatment.
“This should be done as soon as possible since the experts in this profession have come together not only in Uganda, but worldwide, to set up the Uganda Optometrist Association,†Kirya said.