The academic programmes include a Postgraduate Diploma in Community eye health and a Master of Public Health (Community eye health track).  The certificate training programmes is contained in a portfolio of short courses aimed at strengthening public health services. These include "Leadership and management", Project management essentials", "Advocacy and health promotion", "Developing action plans" and "Programme administration and management" and a portfolio of "Simulation Ophthalmic Surgery" (SOS) Training courses are offered.  Additionally, UCT-CEHI offers practial opportunities for career and employment through experience development, a volunteering internship programme.

Here is a summary of the Education and Training offered by UCT-CEHI. Download the pdf version of this CEHI Training summary here.

COURSE TITLE

AIM AND PURPOSE

DURATION, STRUCTURE AND TIMING

CLOSING DATE, APPLICATION & FEES

Postgraduate Diploma in Community Eye Health (PgDCEH)

Provides training in eye care programme management to plan, organise and manage community eye health programmes at national, district or facility level. It does not provide a clinical training in ophthalmology.

Duration: one year (February to November)

Structure: Four (4) semester courses delivered in blended format. Practical exercises and assignments.

Due dates:

PgDCEH - 30 September

MSc Surgery- APPLY NOW!

APPLY ONLINE

To apply and obtain information about admission, fees, and funding: https://uct.ac.za/students/applications-apply-undergraduate-qualifications/application-procedure

NB: NO SCHOLARSHIPS!

Master of Surgery (Community Eye Health) (MScCEH)

NB: This replaces the MPHCEH

Provides training to enable participants to undertake clinical and operational research that might inform the planning and management of eye care programmes.  It does not provide a clinical training in ophthalmology.

BY MAJOR DISSERTATION ONLY

18 months minimum registration period

Eligibility: 4-year Bachelor degree

Satisfactory research concept

Completion of Community eye Health and Project management essentials or Eye and Health Systems courses

LAM: Leadership and management (for strengthened public eye health services)

Provides participants with the core leadership and management skills needed for effective planning, design, and implementation of improved eye care services through development of personal leadership and management strategies.

Duration: 1 week contact / 12 weeks online

Structure: 1 week contact workshop (March) or 12 weekly sessions delivered online in asynchronous mode (starts April). Practical exercises and assignments must be completed.

Application due dates:

30 days before start of course.

See course information and application here:

https://health.uct.ac.za/cehi/education/overview

Send email indicating interest to cehi@uct.ac.za  

Or apply online by following the links provided in downloadable course pamphlets.

HPCSA Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is available

NO SCHOLARSHIPS!

PME: Project management essentials (for strengthened public eye health services)

Provides training and support to enable participants to develop comprehensive project plans, from conception to feasibility assessment and marketing, based on the project management approach.

Duration: 1 week contact / 10 weeks online

Structure: 1 week contact workshop (March) or 10 weekly sessions delivered online in asynchronous mode (starts July). Post-training support is provided for completion of action plans, ready for marketing.

DAP: Developing action plans (for strengthened public eye health services)

Provides training and support to enable participants develop an eye care plan for a health service unit, based on regional and national strategies to address the causes of vision loss within LMIC- health system settings.

Duration: 1 week contact / 8 weeks online

Structure: 1 week contact workshop (March) or 8 weekly sessions delivered online in asynchronous mode (starts October). From strategy to action plan developments. Post-training support is provided for completion of action plans, evaluated and ready for marketing.

AHP: Advocacy and health promotion (for strengthened public eye health services)

Provides training and support to equip participants to conceive, develop and implement effective advocacy and health promotion strategies to facilitate the establishment and improvement of eye health services in LMIC health settings.

Duration: 1 week contact (March)

Structure: Intense workshop-style training delivered in contact mode, teaching participants how to develop advocacy and health promotion strategies. Post-training support is provided for completion of advocacy plans for marketing.

Same as above

CEH: Community eye health (for strengthened public eye health services)

Provides participants with the core knowledge and understanding of community eye health, the discipline which focuses on designing and implementing public health interventions against needless blindness and visual impairment.

Duration: 1 week contact (February)

Structure: Intense workshop-style training delivered in contact mode, teaching participants about key aspects of community eye health. Ideal for district level eye care service managers.

Same as above

EHS: Eye and health systems (for strengthened public eye health services)

Provides participants with the core knowledge and understanding of the health systems framework and approaches to strengthen human resources, service delivery, health information systems to meet the goal of improve health outcomes, with special focus on eye care.

Duration: 1 week contact (February)

Structure: Intense workshop-style training delivered in contact mode, teaching participants about the structure and function of the health system elements.   with key aspects of community eye health. Practical exercises and assignments must be completed.  Ideal for district level eye care service managers.

Same as above

SOS: Simulation Ophthalmic Surgical Training

Provides participants with the competencies to perform cataract, glaucoma, and retinal surgery under supervision, from novice to proficient, using evidence-based teaching and learning techniques.

Duration: 2-3 days contact (variable time schedules)

Structure: Participants undergo intense practical training in a dry laboratory setting, using standard theatre instruments, synthetic eyes, and a virtual reality surgical simulator.

See SOS Training information, schedule, and application form here:

https://health.uct.ac.za/cehi/education/simulation-ophthalmic-surgical-training

Send email indicating interest to cehi@uct.ac.za  

 

Further details about DRS to follow.

 

DRS: Diabetic Retinopathy Grading for Screeners

STARTING JULY 2025

Provides participants with the knowledge and skills to take high quality fundus images, assess them and apply grading techniques to route patients appropriately for further follow-up and / or specialist consultation.

Duration: 8 – 10 weeks online

Structure: Participants participate in online video sessions, download course materials and further reading, then undergo tests to be certified as competent DRSS graders.