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International activities

Global

WHO Technical Working Group  - Eye Care Competency Framework Development

  • Participation of Dr. Luigi Bilotto, appointed as expert to working group of the World Health Organization

World Health Organization - WHO Eye care competency framework (ECCF)

  • Drs Luigi Bilotto, Benoît Tousignant and Marie-Josée Aubin were among the eye care experts who committed considerable time in providing feedback to the ECCF through participation in a modified Delphi study.

Africa

Cameroun

ORBIS

Educating and training ophtalmologists of Yaounde Central Hospital on glaucoma surgery

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Support of ophthalmology development and education
  • Collaboration between the V-Zion Clinic, Kinshasa, DRC and the University of Montreal’s ophthalmology department

    Contact: Dr. Annick Mwilabwe (Kinshasa, DRC), Marie-Josée Aubin (UofM)

Madagascar

Visual screening project in pediatric population

  • In partnership with GoCheck Kids.

    Contact: Dr. Simon Grandjean Lapierre, microbiologist-infectiologist medical doctor at the CHUM

Mali

PhD supervision

  • Direction by Dr. Benoît Tousignant, of a PhD Student (Amassagou Dougnon) at l’Université des sciences, des techniques et des technologies and at Centre hospitalier universitaire l’institut d’ophtalmologie tropicale de l’Afrique (CHU-IOTA)
  • Non-corrected refractive errors analysis (URE) in francophone sub-Saharan Africa (FSSA) (2019-2022)

Master’s supervision

  • Co-direction by Dr. Benoît Tousignant of an optometrist (Drissa Coulibaly) from the Centre hospitalier universitaire l’institut d’ophtalmologie tropicale de l’Afrique (CHU-IOTA) following a master’s at the University of Montreal’s School of Optometry (2017-2018)

Development of a local master’s in optometry at l’Institut d’ophtalmologie tropicale de l’Afrique university hospital center (CHU-IOTA), Université de Bamako

  • Program initially aimed at training the trainers.

    Candidates follow local most courses in Mali supervised by local professionals, and virtually attend existing course at the University of Montreal school of optometry virtually.

    Aims to train 1-2 faculty per year over 3-5 years until program is fully self-sufficient with locally available resources.


    Awa Coulibaly, optometry faculty at CHU-IOTA, first candidate to the newly implemented master’s in optometry program in Mali

    Supported By Optometry Giving Sight and Department of International Affairs.

    Contact: Dr. Luigi Bilotto, International Eye Health Advisor, University of Montreal School of Optometry.

Americas

Central America and Caribbean

Haiti

Support project for the management of Hôpital Providence des Gonaïves (USI) and USVI-GUHG

  

  • A team from Quebec, in collaboration with the local paramedic team, evaluated close to 300 patients, adults and kids, in which some had no known prior medical history and others had an HIV diagnosis.
  • A multitude of pathologies were detected: xerosis secondary to lack of vitamin A, trachoma, glaucoma, cataract, presbyopia, pterygium, toxoplasmosis, etc.
  • 100 glasses for presbyopia (Eschenbach optic) and 150 sunglasses provided by Iris Mundial were distributed.
  • Education given to the local team included taking visual acuity, common ocular pathologies as well as the use of the auto-refractometer. The local team is now better equipped to continue screening.
  • Full report (in French)

University of Montreal Haiti Glaucoma Group (GUHG)

Development of externships in optometry in Limbé, Haiti

  • Three-way collaboration between IRIS Mundial (Montreal-based NGO), ÉOUM and CEDI-VE (Haiti)

    Photo: IRIS Mundial

       
    Photos: Foundation Fred Hollows

  • Project offered to students in optometry who wish to acquire competencies in public health as well as cultural competencies
  • Participation to a week-long externship in global eye care, developed to be integrated in their curriculum
  • Community eye care screenings, training of local community health workers and collaboration with local eye surgery center
  • Training in logistics management, in cultural and linguistical competencies and in security
  • For more information

Development and reinforcement of an emerging Optometry School at Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Université d’État d’Haïti (Port-au-Prince).

  • Collaborative effort headed by the University of Montreal (USVI, EOUM, Dept of Ophthalmology) in partnership with Université d’État d’Haïti, Optometry Giving Sight, Brien Holden Foundation.

    School was established in 2013 by consortium chaired by Brien Holden Foundation, in partnership with Université d’État d’Haïti ,Optometry Giving Sight, Charity Vision, Voluntary Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) and University of Montreal.

Photos: Luigi Bilotto

Contact: Dr Luigi Bilotto, Eye Health Advisor, University of Montreal School of Optometry.

South America

Brazil

Bilateral exchange program and observation externships for ophthalmology residents between the University of Montreal and Brazilian universities such as la Pontificia Universidade Catolica, Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RIO) and the Universidade de São Paulo (USP).

Contact: Dr. Flavio Rezende, MD, Ph. D., Associate professor at the University of Montreal’s clinic.

For more information

Chile

Exchange student project and observation externship

  • Between University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine and University of Montreal School of Public Health, as well as the Faculty of Medicine and of Public Health of the University of Chile in Santiago.

    Contact: Dr. Leonel Valdivia – public health, Dr. Miguel O’Ryan – international affairs (University of Chile in Santiago)

Colombia

Institutional Reinforcement Project in optometry in Colombia (Fundacion Universitaria Area Andina, Pereira)

  • Establishment of a 3 month-long externship in clinical and preclinical education in optometry for residents in community eye care (Dr. Ariana Arambulo Cevallos).

    Contact: Dr. Beno    ît Tousignant, University of Montreal School of Optometry

Eastern Mediterranean

Morocco

Project to increase access to cataract surgery in the North-East of Morocco

  • Contact: Dr. Mariem Abidar

Development of remote screening project in glaucoma

Morocco and Lebanon

Cooperation project between the University of Montreal and universities from Morocco and Lebanon

  • Partnerships with Mahammed V University, in Rabat, and Cadi Ayyad University, in Marrakech, and Lebanese universities such as Saint-Joseph and of Balamand
  • Project led by the vice-rectorate of international and community partnerships
  • For more information

Western Pacific

Vietnam

Institutional strengthening in optometry  (2019, Dr. Benoît Tousignant)

  • Collaboration with Hanoi Medical University (HMU), Brien Holden Vision Institute, University of Medicine Pham Ngoc Thach (UPNT)
  • External audit of optometry university programs from HMU and UPNT

Institutional strengthening in optometry, Hanoi Medical University (2020, Dr. Benoit Tousignant)

  • Establishment of a 3 month-long externship in clinical and preclinical education in optometry for a resident in community eye care (Dr. Valerie Proulx)