An Academic Vision Centre, established four years ago by a consortium of partners, has been handed over to the Malawi Ministry of Health in South Africa.
The Academic Vision Centre, the first of its kind in the world, was established in partnership by Optometry Giving Sight, Brien Holden Vision Institute, Sight Savers, Mzuzu University and the Malawi College of Health Sciences. The partners have also established a regional School of Optometry with two university campuses in Malawi, each training a separate level of optometric-skilled personnel. They hope the two campuses will help overcome a shortage of optometrists working in the Sub Saharan region.
Students at the School of Optometry on the Mzuzu University campus are undertaking a four year optometry course. Thanks to the state of the art Academic Vision Centre, they can now gain the practical experience they need, by working with patients to develop their skills and providing low vision services to the community.
