Dr Stephen Gichuhi, chairman, Department of Ophthalmology
Welcome to the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nairobi. Ophthalmology training at the University started in 1978 under the department of surgery up-to 1990 when it became independent. Over that period, more than 150 ophthalmologists from various countries have been trained. With an annual intake of 10-12 trainees, this is the largest post-graduate ophthalmology program in Sub-Saharan Africa. Being a WHO regional collaboration and training centre, the department admits ophthalmology trainees from many countries in Africa and beyond. It is also a founder member College of Ophthalmology, Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA) and has established collaborations with other training institutes among them the University Eye Hospital in Munich and LV Prasad Eye Institute in India. It is also the regional examination centre for the annual International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) examinations. The post-graduate ophthalmology course offered at the department is a 3 year intensive training with hands-on surgical exposure. The training is offered at the Kenyatta National hospital, the largest teaching and referral hospital in the region. The trainees also participate in routine eye camps and undertake two clinical rotations in approved eye centers. There is a well equipped wet-lab where the students practice microscopic surgery on animal eyes throughout the training. Other training modalities offered at the department include lectures, discussions, journal clubs, modules, seminars and conferences. In future, the department plans expand the training program to also offer sub-specialty courses. The University is in the process of establishing the University of Nairobi Institute of Head and Neck Surgical Sciences (UNIHANSS) which will provide comprehensive academic, clinical and community services and will constitute a Centre for Eye Health, which will be developed from the present Department of Ophthalmology. With the core values of excellence, integrity, inclusiveness, openness and justice, the department endeavors to promote evidence based practice of ophthalmology in its contribution towards the pillars of human resource development and disease control in vision 2020.
DR STEPHEN GICHUHI
MBChB, M.Med(Ophth), MBA, MSc(Epid), DLSHTM, PhD, FEACO
CHAIRIMAN, DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
