News and notices. Comm Eye Health Vol. 16 No. 45 2003. March 01, 2003

Community Ophthalmology Information Programme & Trachoma Information Service for Eastern Africa

The Ophthalmic Resource Centre for East Africa (ORCEA), under the direction of the Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO), has started an email based Community Ophthalmology Information Programme (COIP). This will soon be set up to reach those without email by post. Current information, primarily from the published scientific literature and from Vision 2020 initiatives in the region will be summarised and distributed on a periodic basis to those interested. The programme’s primary coverage area includes eastern Africa (Egypt south to South Africa). Eye care providers and others in the area are invited to send their contact information (via email, if possible; via post, if no email). Others in Africa, interested in being included in the emailing list, are also encouraged to send their contact information.

Separately, but along the same lines, with generous support provided by Helen Keller International and start up support from Al Noor, International Eye Foundation, International Trachoma Initiative, and Seva (Canada & US), the KCCO has initiated a Trachoma Information Service (TIS). The goal of the TIS is to provide findings and interpretation of current research on trachoma and its control in Africa to those interested in trachoma control.

To sign up for either (or both) the COIP and TIS service, please send an email to [email protected] with your name, postal address, phone, fax, and email address. If you do not have access to email, send your name, postal address, phone and fax to ORCEA, c/o KCCO, PO Box 2254, Moshi, Tanzania.

For further information contact Dr Paul Courtright at [email protected]

News and notices in Comm Eye Health Vol. 16 No. 45 2003 –