Mozambique Eyecare Programme:A Cross Institutional Collaboration Eliminating Uncorrected Refractive Error In Lusophone Africa

Aoife Phelan, Dublin Institute of Technology
Patricia Mordaunt, Dublin Institute of Technology
Eva Doyle, Dublin Institute of Technology
Peter Davison, Dublin Institute of Technology
James Loughman, Dublin Institute of Technology

Document Type Conference Paper

World Congress on Refractive Error and Service Delivery, Durban, South Africa, 2010

Abstract

BACKGROUND This paper will discuss the cross institutional collaboration between governments, higher level institutions, non-governmental organisations and corporations in the Mozambique Eyecare Programme. OBJECTIVES The aims of this Programme are to collaborate to provide a sustainable solution to the problem of avoidable blindness in developing nations, by addressing the significant barrier of local human resource capacity development, through optometric education, and to enhance specialist knowledge for future collaborations. METHODS Joint collaboration has developed in the following areas • Drafting the initial funding proposal to mutually benefit all partners • Drafting and signing a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to assign responsibilities fairly and realistically • Disclosing the reporting and management structures within organisations • Sharing or developing common materials and resources • Establishing clear reporting and management structures between partners • Regular review and analysis of project plan, budget and milestones RESULTS Successful collaborative efforts within the project include • MOU responsibilities respected by the major partners • Curricular model adapted in line with the Higher Education Reform in Mozambique • Optometry training clinic plans and build successful, input from the project leaders led to a modern education and retail focussed clinic design • Development of research tools and systems through collaborative research workshops CONCLUSION Cross institutional collaborations work effectively and efficiently to address uncorrected refractive error as a leading cause of global blindness and vision impairment. Roles, responsibilities and clear, realistic, mutually beneficial reporting structures should be agreed upon from project inception.