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TOA AGM 2007
Annual
General Meeting
7th
September 2007
At
Beachcomber Hotel
Dar es Salaam
Optometry is one of the
first professions in Tanzania to encourage its members to participate in
continuing professional development (CPD) programmes. As a result of the
Optometry Act 2007 that came into force in July 2007, optometrists
practicing in Tanzania will be required to show that they have taken part
in approved CPD in order to retain their registration with the Optometry
Council. Without registering with the Council, an optometrist will not be
able to practice in Tanzania.
The Tanzania Optometric
Association has been regularly holding its Annual general meeting since
1999.
In 1999, the AGM was held at
the Peacock Hotel in Dar es Salaam with the AGM in 2001 being held at the
Msimbazi Centre.
From 2002, the format was
changed to include a continuing professional development programme
alongside the AGM to incorporate changes taking place in the profession
through out the world. The very first CPD took place in 2002 at the New
Africa Hotel in Dar, where ophthalmologists as well as optometrists
contributed to a very exciting programme. The optometrists were taught in
small groups to encourage interaction and active exchange of ideas.
The idea was carried through
into 2003 when the AGM CPD programme was held at the Sheraton Hotel in
Dar. Local optometrists, ophthalmologists and public health specialists
all took part in this programme.
In 2004, TOA joined hands
with OSEA and a joint programme was held in Dar. Prof Stulting met members
of TOA for the first time and promised to return to Dar for conducting a
CPD
Prof Stulting fulfilled his
promise and returned in August 2005 and gave a exciting 2 day programme at
CCBRT on ‘Diseases of the anterior and Posterior segment’.
In 2006, TOA held a 2 day
programme on Low Vision. Contributors included local optometrists as well
as Dr Naomi Nsubuga from Uganda who also represented the African Council
of Optometry (AFCO).
Thus for 5 years TOA has
been giving some CPD programmes to its members. To encourage the CPD
programmes to grow, TOA contacted Prof Kovin Naidoo of the International
Centre for Eyecare Education. Prof Naidoo and TOA are now working to
provide a bridging course to enable diplomates from KCMC School of
Optometry to upgrade to a full honours degree. As a result this years CPD
will be a short introductory programme to the bridging programme.
It is also intended as a
precursor to the type of CPD that will be required to be completed by all
optometrists as a condition of retention in the Register of the Optometric
Council.
All optometrists practicing
in Tanzania are strongly encouraged to attend. |