Hochschule München (HM), Munich, Germany in collaboration with the Department of Optometry and Visual Science at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, has launched the HM-KNUST Low Vision Project aimed at advancing university education and patient care in the field of low vision rehabilitation.
The Project, set to run for the next three years, was launched on 1st April 2023. This was made possible through a grant of approximately Three Hundred Thousand Euros (€300,000) from the Kroener-Fresenius Foundation. The Project will see the establishment of a Tertiary Low Vision Center on KNUST Campus, as well as associated regional clinics in the Ashanti Region.
The clinics established under this Project will provide a range of services, including low vision assessments, prescription of appropriate optical devices, and training in adaptive skills. The clinics will also collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care to patients.
Additionally, the Project will facilitate collaboration between KNUST and HM to enhance research and education in low-vision rehabilitation and provide a practical training platform for optometry students and eye care professionals, enabling them to acquire valuable hands-on experience in the field of low-vision rehabilitation.
The Project is led by Dr. Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department, Optometry and Visual Science, and Professor Dr. rer. biol. hum. Werner Eisenbarth from HM. Both leaders bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Project and are committed to its success.
Low vision rehabilitation is an emerging field that focuses on helping people with visual impairments to live their lives to the fullest. It is a multidisciplinary approach that involves optometrists, ophthalmologists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals working together to provide the best possible care to patients.