News Releases

UWI Optometry and Canadian Vision Care: Bringing Eyecare to the Community

For Release Upon Receipt - April 16, 2024

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago April 16, 2024 – The School of Optometry at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus, in a collaborative effort with Canadian Vision Care, has successfully concluded a series of impactful vision screenings and healthcare services for communities across Trinidad and Tobago.

From February 19th to 22nd, this joint initiative extended critical eye care services to residents of La Vega Gran Couva, Tortuga, Tabaquite, Flanagin Town, and Talparo. Over the course of four days, an impressive 423 community members received vital screenings for a range of eye conditions, including diabetes-related complications, glaucoma, cataracts, alongside specialized assessments tailored for both children and seniors. Moreover, attendees were offered complimentary blood pressure readings, enriching their holistic well-being.

Among the communities served, Tortuga stood out with its remarkable turnout, boasting approximately 230 participants who seized the opportunity to benefit from the comprehensive vision screenings provided. Dr. Kingsley K Ekemiri, Head of The UWI Optometry Clinic, reflected on the endeavour with pride, remarking, "The resounding success of our screenings underscores our steadfast dedication to promoting community health and welfare, empowering individuals to prioritize their vision and overall wellness."

The impact of this initiative extends beyond the confines of the screening period, as The UWI Optometry Clinic, stationed at The Couva Hospital and Multi Training Facility, remains committed to delivering accessible and comprehensive eye care services throughout the week. With services ranging from thorough eye examinations to specialized assessments, including Binocular vision evaluations and Low Vision Assessments, the clinic ensures that quality eye care remains within reach for all members of the community, at affordable rates.

For Appointments and Inquiries:

Telephone: 868-225-1018

Email: Sta-fms.OptometryClinic@sta.uwi.edu

The UWI Optometry Clinic extends its thanks to Canadian Vision Care and to all members of the public who participated in the screenings and look forward to future initiatives to provide accessible vision health services to the wider community.

END

 

UWI Optometry student conducts an eye test on a student of the Tortuga Government Primary School during their outreach activities at the Tortuga Community Centre

 

Courts Optical representative performs a vision screening test on a member of the community during UWI Optometry Unit outreach activities at the Tortuga Community Centre

 

 Canadian Vision Care volunteers interact with members of the Tortuga community during UWI Optometry Unit outreach activities

 About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

 The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

Contact