Lapaire Uganda Empowers Future Eye Care Professionals

Lapaire Uganda is actively working to combat the scarcity of eye care professionals in the country through its “Lapaire Day” event. This initiative aims to ignite interest among young Ugandans in pursuing careers in optometry and ophthalmology, while also promoting essential eye health practices.

The recent “Lapaire Day” event, held at the company’s Ntinda office, provided students from various schools with hands-on experience alongside eye care professionals. Attendees received free eye examinations and valuable career guidance on the opportunities within the eye health sector.

This event is part of a broader school outreach program by Lapaire Uganda, which has reportedly reached over 10,000 students this year across Kampala, Masaka, and Jinja. John Hillary Balyejusa, Lapaire’s Head of Public Relations and Communications, highlighted the program’s goal: to encourage more youth to enter the eye care field and enhance access to quality services.

Balyejusa pointed out that Uganda faces a significant deficit, with fewer than 600 eye care professionals serving a population of almost 50 million. “This makes the doctor-patient ratio very huge. At Lapaire, we want to use our young people as a tool to reduce this number,” he stated.

During “Lapaire Day,” students were introduced to the academic paths for becoming eye care specialists and engaged in practical exercises under professional supervision. This provided them with a realistic glimpse into the daily work of an eye care specialist. Students also learned about common eye conditions, their prevention, and proper eye care habits.

The program’s expansion beyond Kampala this year, following positive feedback from its inaugural event, demonstrates its growing impact. Eye specialist Dr. Lynette Mary Muhiirwa emphasized the initiative’s dual focus on career motivation and practical eye health knowledge. She addressed concerns about issues like myopia and photophobia increasingly affecting young people, and advised on protective measures such as balanced diets, adequate sleep, and managing screen time.

Lapaire encourages regular eye check-ups for everyone and offers free eye testing at its branches. The company plans to continue its outreach efforts to foster eye health awareness and inspire the next generation of eye care professionals in Uganda.

Source: Nile Post