The NOOR Eye-care Training Centre (NETC) moved to a purpose-built location in the Darulaman section of Kabul in June 2012. NETC is NOOR’s main training centre for eye care in Afghanistan and is headquarters to NOOR’s outreach projects.
In 2013, NETC saw 27, 425 patients and performed 1, 436 surgeries. Difficult cases from government eye hospitals and the private sector continued to be referred to NETC for surgery.
Training local eye-care professionals is an integral part of NOOR’s work in Afghanistan, and is one of the keys to providing long term sustainable eye health services for the country. At NETC a four-year residency program for ophthalmologists, an ophthalmic technician training program, and training for all levels of eye care professionals are run.
At the Ophthalmic Technician Training Project (OTTP) 20 new students from different provinces of Afghanistan began their training in the autumn of 2013. This project trains ophthalmic technicians (OTs) to work in mid-level eye care. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) conducted an exam for all health workers trained by NGO and private health facilities. Earlier in 2013, eleven graduates of the NOOR OTTP passed this exam and were licensed by the MoPH. Three NOOR ophthalmologists were also tested and licensed as trainers by the MoPH.