Department of Optometry and Visual Science (KNUST)

The Department of Optometry at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, is based in Kumasi, Ghana. Its placement is under the College of Science of the university. It is the smallest department of the college with 10 teaching staff and around 210 students, but it contributes immensely to the college and the school.

Ghana and Optometry

Ghana got its independence from Britain on March 6th, 1957. After independence, various governmental agencies were established to help the government serve the populace better. One of these agencies was the Ministry of Health. Being the government's agency in charge of the health of Ghanaians, it went on to compartmentalize its activities so that various health needs of the people would be catered for by various departments. The Eye secretariat of Ghana was thus formed to see the eyecare needs of Ghanaians. By 1991, the idea for Optometrists in Ghana to be formally trained began to circulate. Professionals for this field were to be trained to help in the eye care needs of Ghanaians. KNUST was to assist in the training of Optometrists. Optometry in Ghana, while still young, is a great asset to the nation.

The Early Days

After the idea to train Optometrists was conceived, necessary steps were taken to ensure the idea saw the light of day. As such the first optometrist school in Ghana was started at the department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 1992. The first class had just five students and were under the tutelage of Ghana's first Optometrist, Dr. Kofivi Monny. It was opened to only to those who had had their first degrees in either Biochemistry, Physics or Biology. Graduates from the school were awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Optometry (Pg. Dip. Optometry).

Later On

In 2000 the department moved from the Physics block to the Biology block. This was necessary as the program needed more space to house its students and labs. In the same year a four year Bachelors of Science Degree program was started to phase out the Optometry program and also accelerate the training of more eye care professionals in Ghana. In 2004, just as the first batch of Optometrist with the BSc. Degree had graduated, they were enrolled for the two year Doctor of Optometry (O.D) program. They went on to finish with their doctorate degrees in 2007. Over eighty percent of Ghanaian Optometrists have had their training from the KNUST.

Currently

In August 2010, the Department finally got its own permanent address as it moved into the multi-million cedi Science Complex Block. The department was alloted permanent classrooms and offices for students and staff members respectively. The 2011 batch who have yet to graduate have are fifty-three. Dr. Dr. Angela O. Amedo, a member of the first batch of Optometrists produced in Ghana, is the Head of Department for Optometry at KNUST. Today, there are about two hundred Optometrist in Ghana working hand-in-hand with other eyecare professionals to save sight.

Staff of the Department

As of January 2011, the Department had twelve members of staff overall, with 8 teachers, 2 secretaries, a janitorial custodian, and a driver. All members of teaching staff possess a Doctorate of Optometry. Currently four are pursuing other programs at the Masters level and one is pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy.

Students' Association

The Optometry Students' Association of Ghana

The Optometry Students' Association of Ghana (OSAG) is the only student group solely for Optometry students in Ghana. There are two chapters of the association, one at KNUST and the other at the University of Cape Coast.

OSAG-KNUST Chapter

The Association has existed since 2000. In 2007, the executives could not organize an election of new members because of an injunction placed on the electoral process. The reason was that there was no constitution that regulated the activities of members and executives. As such, after a year on the drawing board and a referendum, the Constitution of OSAG was made law, subject to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. This led to the organization of a new election which Mr. Anthony Afriyie won to become the first OSAG president - post constitution era.

The motto of OSAG is: Visual health: our concern. This has been exemplified over the years through the association's outreaches to deprived communities across Ghana, its continued advocacy for improved departmental programs, and the overall general eye education amongst students of the university.

Optometry Christian Fellowship (OCF)

Like OSAG, OCF is another student association of the department. It was formed by Christians at the Department of Optometry and Visual Science in 2003. It was to serve as a meeting time for the Christians so they could build each other up in the things of God as well as seek God's intervention in the affairs of the Department.

Executives

The executive body of the Fellowship oversees its day-to-day activities. There are five executive positions in the fellowship. To be an executive, different members are nominated by all regular members of the fellowship. Those nominated go through a prayer and vetting session after which the executives for that batch are selected.

Members

Any student in the department, who believes in Jesus Christ or who wants to commit his or her life to Christ can be a member of OCF.

Meetings

OCF meets once a week. Various programs are scheduled at the beginning of the semester and this is followed to help achieve the purpose of the theme for the semester. The programs include:

• Prayer meetings
• Bible Studies
• Time with the Patron
• Evangelism
• Breaking of bread
• Sermons
• Social Talks
• Optometric Talks

Challenges

The main challenge of the fellowship is the inability of students in the department to attend meetings. The main reason attributed to this is the fact that timetables for the various classes makes it difficult for members to attend. The break time which used to be used for meetings was reduced from one and a half hours to just thirty minutes thereby making some classes miss meetings.

Social Responsibilities

The Department in collaboration with the Inter-nation Centre for Eyecare Education in May, 2010 established an eye clinic at Ayeduase as a suburb of Kumasi. The center--called the Ashanti Vision Centre is to serve the community as well as the satellite towns that surround the university. Students go there regularly to build up their skills as well as offer their services to the numerous people who come for eyecare services. In November 2010 the whole sixth year class of the Department undertook a two-day intensive vision outreach program in the Atebubu district of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana.

In March 2011, volunteers from Vision Aid Overseas visited the Department to teach its students as well as embark on Outreaches to cocoa growing areas of the Ashanti Region.

See also

• Optometry, UCC, Ghana
• Ghanaian Optician
• Eyecare in Ghana