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Mr Ian Murdoch was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Ìýfor services to Health in Western Africa.

We asked Mr Murdoch to tell us a bit more about this important work:

“

My work in West Africa is truly joint between Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ IoO and MEH. To summarise a few key points:
•ÌýÌý Ìý1989 IoO Our large study on onchocerciasis (river blindness) under Barrie Jones and Adenike Abiose showed ivermectin safe for community dosage. In 2012 the communities we worked in were integral to proving potential for elimination of the disease in AfricaÌý
•ÌýÌý Ìý2003 Moorfields A corridor meeting with Sir Thomas Boyd-Carpenter led to a project to build a surgical training centre for West Africa. We established a charity, raised funds, built and handed the new Lions International Eye Centre over to KorleBu teaching Hospital, Ghana in 2015

•ÌýÌý Ìý2012 IoO Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ educationalists were involved from the outset in planning an educational package to train sub-specialist surgery in West Africa
•ÌýÌý Ìý2012 Moorfields Clinicians became involved in developing materials and training courses. These are online courses accessible on smartphones for ‘head knowledge’ prior to face-to-face training in procedures.
•ÌýÌý Ìý2016 IoO We developed train the trainers courses both to improve medical training across West Africa and to enable the sub-specialist courses to be run by West Africa, in West Africa, for West Africa. Two landmarks were the first train the trainers course and the first sub-speciality course run by West Africans and completed in early 2020 just prior to COVID.

•ÌýÌý Ìý2019 IoO and Moorfields ÌýA subspecialist training curriculum was completed for all key sub-specialities and integrated into a brand new training curriculum for West African ophthalmologists Ìý
It has been my privilege to see every single sector/profession of Moorfields and quite a few aspects of the Institute throw themselves wholeheartedly into helping with the project. It has been exciting and fun to be part of this effort. But we are not finished! There is so much yet to do to get online courses running, continue training trainers, ensure sustainability of the courses, widen the hands-on training both in topics and extending beyond the single training centre, and see that the curriculum works in producing world class surgery and care in West Africa and much more.ÌýThe over-riding point is the privilege to know my West African Colleagues who demonstrate unrivalled determination, dedication and humour in overcoming the most enormous obstacles.ÌýMy work in West Africa is truly joint between Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ IoO and Moorfields. To summarise a few key points:Ìý

• 1989 IoO
  Our large study on onchocerciasis (river blindness) under Barrie Jones and Adenike Abiose showed ivermectin safe for community dosage. In 2012 the communities we worked in were integral to proving potential for elimination of the disease in AfricaÌý
• Ìý2003 Moorfields
  A corridor meeting with Sir Thomas Boyd-Carpenter led to a project to build a surgical training centre for West Africa. We established a charity, raised funds, built and handed the new Lions International Eye Centre over to KorleBu teaching Hospital, Ghana in 2015
• 2012 IoO
  Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ educationalists were involved from the outset in planning an educational package to train sub-specialist surgery in West Africa
• Ìý2012 Moorfields
  Clinicians became involved in developing materials and training courses. These are online courses accessible on smartphones for ‘head knowledge’ prior to face-to-face training in procedures.
• 2016 IoO
  We developed train the trainers courses both to improve medical training across West Africa and to enable the sub-specialist courses to be run by West Africa, in West Africa, for West Africa. Two landmarks were the first train the trainers course and the first sub-speciality course run by West Africans and completed in early 2020 just prior to COVID.
• 2019 IoO and Moorfields Ìý
  A subspecialist training curriculum was completed for all key sub-specialities and integrated into a brand new training curriculum for West African ophthalmologists Ìý
  
  It has been my privilege to see every single sector/profession of Moorfields and quite a few aspects of the Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Institute of Ophthalmology throw themselves wholeheartedly into helping with the project. It has been exciting and fun to be part of this effort. But we are not finished! There is so much yet to do to get online courses running, continue training trainers, ensure sustainability of the courses, widen the hands-on training both in topics and extending beyond the single training centre, and see that the curriculum works in producing world-class surgery and care in West Africa and much more.Ìý

  
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Links

• Spotlight on Ian Murdoch
• Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ staff and alumni recognised in 2022 New Year’s Honours