Professor, medical retina and global eyecare specialist in Rwanda/Kenya

Wanjiku (Ciku) Mathenge, MD, MSc, PhD, FEACO

Director of Training and ResearchRwanda International Institute of OphthalmologyMedical Retina Specialist

After undergraduate and ophthalmology studies at the University of Nairobi, Dr. Mathenge worked in Nakuru, Kenya before relocating to Rwanda. Dr. Mathenge became the Head of Ophthalmology Department at the University of Rwanda, before leaving to set up the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO). RIIO, a not for profit, has undertaken several community and research projects in Rwanda including a National Blindness survey, the first RCT using artificial intelligence for diabetic retinopathy screening in Africa and runs the first residency training program in Rwanda. Dr. Mathenge is a professor of ophthalmology and consultant ophthalmologist with medical retina subspecialty. Dr. Mathenge has an MSc in Community Ophthalmology from University College London and studied retinal diseases in African eyes for her PHD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She was the first female ophthalmologists in Africa to hold a PhD. Dr. Mathenge was the Medical Advisor for Africa for the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) for 15 years, before moving to Orbis international in the same capacity. She sat on the Board of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) from 2013 to 2021 and currently on the board of Ophthalmology Foundation. She is the previous Head of the Education and Accreditation Committee of COECSA and currently head of the Training the Trainers Subcommittee. She has served as the Vice President of the Rwanda Ophthalmology Society. She has also worked extensively with WHO AFRO notably in developing the Primary Eye Care curriculum for the African region. In 2021 she was on the Ophthalmology Power List of the 100 most influential women in Ophthalmology as well as one of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Eye Health heroes. She is married to her friend and professional colleague John and is a proud mother of 3.

Pediatric Ophthalmologist in Kenya

Dr. Matende is a practicing ophthalmologist with Shiloh Eye Associates located in Mombasa, the 2nd largest coastal city of Kenya, in East Africa. He has been involved in various eye care intervention programs including Trachoma research and intervention, Cataract training and intervention, Eye Care workers training in various level, leadership in ophthalmology activities and organizations. This has been in his local region of Mombasa, Kenya and extending to region, Africa and Global. Dr. Matende has been practicing ophthalmology since 2003 after graduating from residency program at Eye Department, School of medicine, University of Nairobi. It is in the same school that he undertook his undergraduate medicine course. He has since sub-specialized in Pediatrics Ophthalmology and Strabismus since the year 2009. He continues to be involved in various community and public health services, teaching, research as well as clinical ophthalmology. He is a former President of College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA), board member of Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO), Organizing secretary Coast Ophthalmologists Caucus, Senate Member at East, Central and Southern Africa College of Health Science (ECSA-CHS) and Medical director at Shiloh Excellent Ophthalmic Services and Shiloh Eye Associates. He consults for various leading local hospitals including Lighthouse for Christ Eye Centre. Dr. Matende has keen on growing ophthalmology specialty as a preferred vocation and professional career to help address gaps in human resource for eye health; Advocate and lobby for eye health agenda; advance scientific research and dissemination; foster quality ophthalmology training and infrastructure; growing and developing leaders in eye health; create opportunity and foster greater integration, interaction and partnerships of eye care institutions and organizations globally for eradication of avoidable blindness. He is married to Julia N. Matende and they live in Mombasa with their two children Judah Oriedo and Neema Khalechi.

Professor and public health Ophthalmologist in Nigeria

Dr. Adepoju is a Professor of Ophthalmology and a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the University of Ilorin/ Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, Nigeria. She is the International Coordinator of U6+ Consortium, a Consortium of Ten Universities in Africa. She is the Vice President, Bioethics Society of Nigeria and heads the Community Ophthalmology Unit in her Department, and the current Chairman of Public Health Ophthalmology Group of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria. She is an Alumni of Leadership development program of American Academy Ophthalmology (AAO) 2019 Class XXI and a graduate of Class I Leadership Development Program of the Africa Ophthalmology Council. She is a recipient of several awards and grants.

Ophthalmic and vitreoretinal surgeon in Nigeria

Dr Kunle Hassan is an international acclaimed, Ophthalmic Surgeon with wide experience in Vitreo-Retina Surgery. Graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1976. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeon, Glasgow, UK, Royal College of Ophthalmologist, UK, West African College of Surgeons and the Nigeria Institute of Cost Management. He established the Eye Foundation Hospital as the first Private Post-graduate Training institution in Nigeria in 1993 and The Deseret Community Vision Institute in 2006. Dr. Hassan, the Executive Chairman and CMD of Eye Foundation Hospitals Group, is a distinguished leader in the field of ophthalmology. With a remarkable career, he has served as a Board member of the International Council of Ophthalmology and is a member of the ICO Emeritus Group, showcasing his global influence. Additionally, Dr. Hassan is a Council Member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the Founding President of the African Ophthalmology Council. His significant contributions are reflected in over 100 publications and research papers, earning him more than 30 prestigious awards across various domains. Notably, he received the Paracecius Award in Germany and was the first African to be honored with the ICO Mark Tso Golden Apple Award for exceptional achievements in Ophthalmic Education. Beyond his medical achievements, Dr. Hassan has played key roles in corporate governance, having served as the Former Chairman of the Board Governance and Personnel Committee of Diamond Bank Plc and currently chairing the Board of Directors at Summit Healthcare Group of Companies, in addition to his role as a board member of Health Partners (HMO) and Deseret International Hospital. He is a quiet Philanthropist. Happily married with 3 children.

Ophthalmic and vitreoretinal surgeon in Nigeria

DOphthalmic & Vitreoretinal SurgeonEye Foundation Retina Institute & Eye Foundation HospitalSpecial medical / other interests: Ophthalmic Educator and Researcher

Dr. Okonkwo is an ophthalmic/vitreoretinal surgeon with a keen interest in advancing the practice of vitreoretinal surgery in Africa. He is a graduate of the University of Nigeria and a fellow of Edinburgh’s royal college of surgeons. He works at the Eye Foundation Hospital & Retina Institute, in Lagos and serves as program director. He is former of the scientific and program committee for the AOC 2023 conference. He is an active member of numerous professional ophthalmological & retina societies. His aim is to improve the quality of ophthalmic and vitreoretinal education and training in the African region. He is happily married to Chinyere. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with Ada and Amara, whom he loves very dearly.

Associate professor of Ophthalmology and Glaucoma specialist in Ethiopia

Consultant Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma specialistAddis Hiwot General HospitalAssociate professor of ophthalmology, Addis Ababa University

Dr Abeba T. Giorgis is a consultant ophthalmologist and a glaucoma specialist. She is an associate professor of ophthalmology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Dr Abeba did both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Addis Ababa University, and her glaucoma fellowship training was at Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, PA, USA in 2009. She has been mentoring ophthalmology residents and medical students since 2006 and has led glaucoma service at Menelik hospital for 15 years. She is a founder and was a director of glaucoma fellowship program, Addis Ababa University, 2019 – 2023. She is practicing at Addis Hiwot General hospital and mentoring glaucoma fellows and ophthalmic residents of Addis Ababa University. She has more than 25 publications, and her main research interest area are various aspects glaucoma. Dr. Abeba is a member of the Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA), member and scientific committee member of the Ophthalmological Society of Ethiopia (OSE), a fellow and member of College of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA) and member and scientific committee member of Panafrican Glaucoma Association (PAGA). She has got wards from the Ophthalmological Society of Ethiopia (OSE) for advancing glaucoma service in Ethiopia in 2014, and as the best mentor from Department of ophthalmology, Addis Ababa University in 2019 and 2023. Dr. Abeba is married to Dr Kassahun Kiros and a mother of two, Engineer Brook Kassahun and Dr Elizabeth Kasshun

Consultant Ophthalmologist in South Africa

Dr Andrew Boliter was born and raised in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. He qualified with an MBChB from the University of Cape Town in 1987. After completing internship and some years of training in Family Medicine, he returned to Cape Town to specialize in Ophthalmology, obtaining his FCS(SA)Ophth in 1997. His career as a general ophthalmologist has been based in the coastal city of East London in the Eastern Cape. He has held a consultant position at Frere Hospital, was medical director of the Fred Hollows Foundation in the Eastern Cape for 2 years and has been in private practice since 2002. He is a co-founder of East London Eye Hospital. He holds a Senior Lecturer position at Walter Sisulu University where he is involved in the registrar training program. He is an active member of a number of local and international ophthalmology societies. He was a board member of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa for 12 years and is a Past President of the Society. He also served on a number of national committees including the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness in South Africa, the National Eyecare Committee and the Ophthalmology Management Group. He is married to Janine Kirby, who is a Family Physician, and has 2 children and 1 grandchild.

Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal surgeon in Rwanda

Consultant Ophthalmologist in Cameroon

Ophthalmologist, Specialist in ContactologyFounder of La Cerisaie Eye Clinic, Member of the French Society of Ophthalmology (SFO)President of the Cameroon Society of Ophthalmology (SCO)

Dr. Manga Théodat is a Cameroonian, one of Cameroon’s pioneer ophthalmologists trained at the Bordeaux University, France and currently serving as the President of the Cameroon Society of Ophthalmology since 2022. Throughout his service at the public sector, he spent most of his time engaged in humanitarian activities in the domain of health in the most remote communities in Cameroon. He established a state of the arts eye clinic in Cameroon’s economic capital Douala, which serves as a hub for various eye care sub-specialties with patients coming from the Central African sub-region and beyond. Dr. Manga has a burning passion to change paradigms within the health sector, especially in the domain of eye care. This prompted him to serve at the Cameroon Medical Council as Deputy Secretary General for years and unfortunately missed the Presidency after a very tight election recently held in Yaoundé. Since his accession at the helm of Cameroon’s Society of Ophthalmology (SCO), Dr. Manga has transformed the scientific meeting, which now receives more than 500 delegates and may valued partners held annually in Cameroon. In his mandate, the SCO has produced many standard guidelines documents and publications to support the practice of Ophthalmology in Francophone Africa and Cameroon. He is married to Grace and father of five children amongst which is a medical Doctor already in practice.

General Ophthalmologist in South Africa

Dr Anesu Madikane is a young ophthalmologist from South Africa. She holds a fellowship in Ophthalmology from Colleges of medicine of South Africa and a Masters of Medicine in Ophthalmology from the University of Pretoria. She was the vice president of OSSA young ophthalmologists in 2021/2022 and is currently the president of the AOC Young Ophthalmologists forum. She works in private practice in Pretoria as a general ophthalmologist with a special interest in anterior segment surgery.