In pursuit of universal eye health and the reduction of visual impairment caused by uncorrected refractive errors, Vision Action continues to champion the strengthening of essential eye care services. A crucial element of this effort is the continued professional development (CPD) training and education of eye health professionals.
Building a Strong Optometry Workforce
In Ghana, optometrists are required to participate in CPD each year, working within a points-based system to maintain their registration with the Ghana Health Service. This ensures a robust, well-trained optometry workforce. The Ghana Optometric Association (GOA) facilitates four CPD events annually across different regions, ensuring all members can access vital training opportunities.
In Ethiopia, while CPD is not yet a regulated requirement, many Optometrists actively pursue regular training to enhance their knowledge and skills. The Ethiopian Optometric Association (EOA) is working with the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia to formalize CPD regulation and hopefully in the future establish a points system. Meanwhile, the Association already provides CPD to members through its annual scientific conference.
A New Model for CPD – Peer Discussion
In 2024, Vision Action, introduced a new approach to CPD for members of both the GOA and EOA. This new CPD scheme was led by Dr Catherine Porter (University of Manchester), through our Volunteer Programme. The sessions used peer discussion of clinical cases, developed by a small team of volunteers and delivered by local facilitators, to encourage collaborative and reflective learning. This interactive approach proved both engaging and effective, allowing participants to discuss patient diagnosis and management in small groups.
The first peer discussion sessions, focused on Medical Retina were developed by Dr Catherine Porter and delivered at the GOA’s Annual General Meeting in Ghana (October 2024) and the EOA’s annual conference in Ethiopia (November 2024) by our in country partners.
The Ethiopian event included a detailed pre- and post-session evaluation designed by Dr Porter, in collaboration with volunteers Dr Niall Hynes (University of Huddersfield) and Dr Chris Davey (University of Bradford). The results were overwhelmingly positive:
Practitioner knowledge and self-reported confidence scores relating to the diagnosis and management of medical retina conditions significantly increased:
- 100% agreed that discussing with peers is a good way to learn
- 91% reported the session developed their competence and confidence
- 91% wanted to take part in future peer discussions
- 78% planned to change their practice as a result of the learning
- 68% realised they knew less about managing medical retina conditions than they initially thought
When attendees were followed up 9 months later:
- 86% agreed they had been able to apply the training to their practice
- 72% had changed the way they took a history from a patient
- 80% had changed the way they investigate patients with medical retina conditions
- 70% had changed the way they manage patients with medical retina conditions
Continued Success in 2025
Building on this success, in August 2025, local facilitators led a peer discussion to 71 optometrists on the management of Common Paediatric Presentations, designed by Dr Hynes and Dr Porter, at the EOA’s annual conference. Evaluation results again showed strong positive impact:
- 84% agreed that discussing with peers is a good way to learn
- 96% agreed the session developed their competence and confidence
- 92% expressed interest in future peer discussions
- 80% planned to change their practice as a result of the learning
- 60% realised they knew less about examining children than they initially thought
In Ghana in October 2025, two additional peer review sessions were delivered through the GOA by local facilitators on Fungal Keratitis designed by Dr Emmanuel Appiagyei, Sandford Eye Care Centre, Ghana and Orbital Cellulitis designed by Dr Chris Davey and Dr Neema Ghorbani Mojarrad, (University of Bradford).
The Ghanaian sessions were attended by 181 optometrists, the evaluation results showed clear improvements in participants’ self-rated confidence in the diagnosis and management of the two potentially blinding diseases.
As with the previous Ethiopian sessions
- 92% agreed that discussing with peers is a good way to learn
- 95% agreed the session developed their competence and confidence
- 92% expressed interest in future peer discussions
- 80% planned to change their practice as a result of the learning
The peer discussions were well received, and participants enthusiastically suggested improvements and future topics, for this sustainable and effective way of delivering CPD. There are further sessions planned for November 2025 and into 2026.
Supporting Human Resource Development
Supporting human resource development in eye health makes up one of the core pillars of Vision Action’s strategy, contributing directly to:
- SDG 4 – Quality Education
- SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being
By investing in the training and capacity building of eye health professionals, Vision Action helps ensure local health systems are equipped with skilled personnel capable of delivering sustainable, high-quality eye care. This work strengthens national health infrastructures and expands access to education and healthcare for underserved communities.
This work was made possible by the commitment of our volunteers, partnership with the Optometry Associations and support from Global Health Partnerships (GHP) and the Karen Sparrow Training & Education Fund.