Once they have completed this segment of the training, the five workers will be able to begin identifying blinding eye conditions. Additionally, they will learn about how to successfully deliver quality eye care in Burundian communities in a manner consistent with local culture and customs.
The second segment of their training will be on site at Kibuye and taught by various physicians and staff from Tenwek Hospital’s Eye Unit of Kenya. Richard Tonui will instruct the 5 trainees in subjects that will include the organization and implementation of public awareness initiatives about eye disease and treatment, community ownership of eye care, management of mobile clinics, and logistics of successful surgical outreaches. Joyce Yegon will train 3 trainees to be surgical technicians, enabling them to oversee the operating room both at the home base at KHH and during surgical outreaches in rural communities.
Each team member will be employed by KHH to work in their eye unit starting January 2, 2014. The community outreach will be a significant part of each participants’ job. However, their outreach work will also be integrated with their other responsibilities with the Kibuye Eye Unit. Initially, we anticipate that a team of two or three staff workers would be doing community outreach events weekly or biweekly (see page 12 for additional detail on community outreach events).
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