THE NIGERIAN THE NIGERIAN INITIATIVEINITIATIVE

A Presentation to the Council of ICO

on the occasion of the

G.O.H. Naumann Award for Leadership in Global Eye Care

 

June 26, 2008, Hong Kong

B.G.K. Ajayi MBBS, MHS Past President, Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN)

Acknowledgement IAcknowledgement I

It is an undeniable fact that there It is an undeniable fact that there would have been no award if I didn't would have been no award if I didn't have the opportunity to serve as have the opportunity to serve as President of the Ophthalmological President of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) Society of Nigeria (OSN)

And serving as president, if I didn't And serving as president, if I didn't receive such cooperation never ever receive such cooperation never ever given to any OSN president before given to any OSN president before me.me.

In The BeginningIn The Beginning Immediately after my election, a meeting Immediately after my election, a meeting

conveyed to map out a strategic direction to conveyed to map out a strategic direction to revitalise the society.revitalise the society.

Major potential week points identified and Major potential week points identified and include:include:

1.1. Lack of records – of any kind – membership; Lack of records – of any kind – membership; financial and general data about the profession in financial and general data about the profession in NigeriaNigeria

2.2. Poor finances Poor finances 3.3. Shifting secretariatShifting secretariat4.4. Poor quality of our meetings Poor quality of our meetings

5.5. Lack of access to information Lack of access to information 6.6. Training problemsTraining problems

Immediate Steps TakenImmediate Steps Taken Establishment of a National Secretariat Establishment of a National Secretariat Appointment of an Executive Secretary Appointment of an Executive Secretary Identified factors gradually but steadily tackled.Identified factors gradually but steadily tackled. For the first time we knew our numbers and hadFor the first time we knew our numbers and had a list of all ophthalmologists in Nigeria and a list of all ophthalmologists in Nigeria and

locationslocations Annual dues were collectedAnnual dues were collected Attendance at our meetings soared Attendance at our meetings soared International faculty was represented at our International faculty was represented at our

meetings. meetings. Financially, for the first time we had surplus of Financially, for the first time we had surplus of

income over expenditure. income over expenditure.

Acknowledgement IIAcknowledgement II

The Coming Of The International Council Of Ophthalmology (ICO)

There could not have been an award if we were not fortunate to have the ICO visit us, and visiting us, starting a chain of revolutionary events in eye care in Nigeria and in the rest of the developing world.

THE VISIT OF ICOTHE VISIT OF ICODistinct concerns were raised about the Distinct concerns were raised about the following: following:

1. Low volume of patients and surgery in training 1. Low volume of patients and surgery in training centrescentres2. Lack of sub-specialists and subs-speciality 2. Lack of sub-specialists and subs-speciality equipmentequipment3. Need for trainers to update Professional and 3. Need for trainers to update Professional and Educational skillsEducational skills Already OSN had taken the following steps:Already OSN had taken the following steps:1. Establishment of the Medical Resource Center with 1. Establishment of the Medical Resource Center with Internet access at the OSN Secretariat in Ibadan; Internet access at the OSN Secretariat in Ibadan; 2. 2. Continuing Medical Education ProgrammeContinuing Medical Education Programme

3. Train The Trainer’s Project 3. Train The Trainer’s Project 4. The establishment of sub-speciality groups. 4. The establishment of sub-speciality groups.

Actions Taken By The ICOActions Taken By The ICO

Through ICO, AAO donated Basic Clinical Through ICO, AAO donated Basic Clinical Science Ophthalmology text-books to 19 Science Ophthalmology text-books to 19 institutions in Nigeria. institutions in Nigeria.

The ICO established Resource centres to The ICO established Resource centres to provide high speed internet access for 6 provide high speed internet access for 6 Training Institutions. Training Institutions.

With cooperation of IAPB, UCH, Ibadan With cooperation of IAPB, UCH, Ibadan was designated as the ICO/IAPB/CARL was designated as the ICO/IAPB/CARL ZEISS Comprehensive Regional Training ZEISS Comprehensive Regional Training Centre for West Africa.Centre for West Africa.

Response to ICO's Response to ICO's InterventionIntervention

Response dramatic and electrifying. Response dramatic and electrifying. AnnualAnnual total cataract surgery in UCH before total cataract surgery in UCH before

intervention varied between 150 to 400. intervention varied between 150 to 400. Now between 80 to 150 Now between 80 to 150 per monthper month, despite , despite

severe challenges (lack of electricity, severe challenges (lack of electricity, bureaucratic, financial, transportation etc.) bureaucratic, financial, transportation etc.) The target is 300 per month.The target is 300 per month.

OUTSIDE UCHOUTSIDE UCH Other training centres have taken a cue from UCH Other training centres have taken a cue from UCH

and increases of 25 to 100% in surgical output and increases of 25 to 100% in surgical output recorded.recorded.

Sub-speciality units of glaucoma, paediatric Sub-speciality units of glaucoma, paediatric ophthalmology and anterior segment now ophthalmology and anterior segment now established in nearly all training centres.established in nearly all training centres.

Vision For The Future-Vision For The Future-NigeriaNigeria

OSN's Strategic Plan.OSN's Strategic Plan. Vision for the Future-Nigeria was based Vision for the Future-Nigeria was based

on the beautiful work done by the ICO. on the beautiful work done by the ICO. Was more than a plan - It was a Was more than a plan - It was a

commitment to take our destiny in our commitment to take our destiny in our hands! hands!

OSN Foundation was established to OSN Foundation was established to support the objectives of the Strategic support the objectives of the Strategic Plan.Plan.

Acknowledgement IIIAcknowledgement III

Private Sector Participation Private Sector Participation

Nor could there have been an award Nor could there have been an award without the tremendous and without the tremendous and unparalleled support for eye care unparalleled support for eye care given by the private sector especially given by the private sector especially the Catholic Mission and in particular the Catholic Mission and in particular His Excellency, Archbishop Felix Job, His Excellency, Archbishop Felix Job, whose belief in our programme made whose belief in our programme made him to give top priority to eye care. him to give top priority to eye care.

Private Sector Private Sector Involvement Involvement

St. Mary's Catholic Eye Hospital, Ago-Iwoye St. Mary's Catholic Eye Hospital, Ago-Iwoye

- set up in response to a request for public - set up in response to a request for public sector assistance for access to service sector assistance for access to service

- and to provide training volume for residents - and to provide training volume for residents in UCH when government hospitals were at a in UCH when government hospitals were at a standstill.standstill.

Eleta Eye Institute, Ibadan, AM-EYE Clinic Eleta Eye Institute, Ibadan, AM-EYE Clinic Eruwa and Atupa Eye Clinic Iseyin are the Eruwa and Atupa Eye Clinic Iseyin are the latest additions. latest additions.

Have signed MOU to work with UCH as part of Have signed MOU to work with UCH as part of the Carl Zeiss Training Centre.the Carl Zeiss Training Centre.

Will provide a model for a sustainable Will provide a model for a sustainable comprehensive eye care service for comprehensive eye care service for communities in Nigeria.communities in Nigeria.

Acknowledgement IVAcknowledgement IV

Finally, there would have been no award Finally, there would have been no award if there were no wonderful men and if there were no wonderful men and women who left the warm comfort of women who left the warm comfort of their homes and countries for the hot, their homes and countries for the hot, humid and often times uncomfortable humid and often times uncomfortable climate of our world, slaving day and climate of our world, slaving day and night to make our hapless people see night to make our hapless people see and have a taste of the best eye care and have a taste of the best eye care the world can give.the world can give.

Prof. Gottfried Otto Helmut Prof. Gottfried Otto Helmut NaumannNaumann

A giant of ophthalmology – a giant in A giant of ophthalmology – a giant in physical stature and in academic profile. physical stature and in academic profile.

Will not attempt to delve into his Will not attempt to delve into his academic profile because it is well academic profile because it is well known to you all. known to you all.

Still I must mention his leadership Still I must mention his leadership qualities.qualities.

- Gentle and Soft spoken- Gentle and Soft spoken - Makes one feel at home at all times. - Makes one feel at home at all times. - Uses gentle persuasion as a tool to get - Uses gentle persuasion as a tool to get

his points acrosshis points across

Fritz Naumann Fritz Naumann

- He n- He never once showed distress or ever once showed distress or discomfort despite the harsh weather. discomfort despite the harsh weather. - Has wonderful listening ears- Has wonderful listening ears - He was always giving encouragement - He was always giving encouragement - And showed an abundance of wisdom and - And showed an abundance of wisdom and energyenergy - Made many useful suggestions for us to - Made many useful suggestions for us to follow.follow. - He is a visionary and a great motivator- He is a visionary and a great motivator - A truly great leader. Professor Emeritus Gottfried Otto - A truly great leader. Professor Emeritus Gottfried Otto Helmut Naumann affectionately called “Fritz.” Helmut Naumann affectionately called “Fritz.”

Fritz NaumannFritz Naumann

I can hear him say “Ben, my dear I can hear him say “Ben, my dear colleague, my friend Ajayi”colleague, my friend Ajayi”

And in return I say, “Fritz, I thank God And in return I say, “Fritz, I thank God for giving you to the world of for giving you to the world of ophthalmology.”ophthalmology.”

If only ophthalmologists could rule the If only ophthalmologists could rule the world, what a great world it would be!world, what a great world it would be!

We salute a GREAT LEADERWe salute a GREAT LEADER

The Journey Has Just The Journey Has Just BegunBegun

Now we have arrived on the plain,Now we have arrived on the plain,And can see that the journey has just And can see that the journey has just

begun.begun.It hasn't been easy and not without pain.It hasn't been easy and not without pain.The greatest obstacle – coming togetherThe greatest obstacle – coming togetherTo work for common good we've To work for common good we've

conquered. conquered. We're now renewed in our convictionWe're now renewed in our convictionThat together we can and we shall,That together we can and we shall,Free our people from avoidable blindness. Free our people from avoidable blindness. And give a true meaning to this award.And give a true meaning to this award.

Thank You Thank You Midway up the ladder,Midway up the ladder,I wanted to give up I wanted to give up Because the incline was rather steep. Because the incline was rather steep. Some friends came round and said,Some friends came round and said,It's easier to keep up the journey to the top It's easier to keep up the journey to the top That in coming downThat in coming downI might slip and fall heavily to the ground.I might slip and fall heavily to the ground.They did more than that! They did more than that! They smoothened the journey up They smoothened the journey up By making the incline less steep. By making the incline less steep. And in addition, gave me a gentle lift. And in addition, gave me a gentle lift. Thank God For Great Friends!Thank God For Great Friends!