Ophthalmic NursingWhat type of job are you looking for? Clinical instructor in ophthalmic nursing / trichiasis surgery trainer. What nationality are you? I am a Tanzania. What languages do you speak (and at what level)? English - excellent Swahili - excellent Yao - low level Makua - low level What country or area are you looking to work in and why? I would like to work in Mozambique (nothern part) because when I was teaching health workers to become trichiasis surgeons in the Southern part of Tanzania in Tandahimba district (bordering Mozambique), we operated many patients with trichiasis. I would like to help the Ministry of Mozambique to deal with a trichiasis backlog in their area. What countries have you worked in? I have worked in Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya and I am now based in Juba, Southern Sudan since September 2007 training health workers in eye health. What countries do you have a visa to work in? I have a visa to work in the Sudan where I am currently based. What field do you currently work in? I am currently working in the field of Ophthalmology (teaching basic eye care services and trichiasis surgery to prevent blindness) What fields have you worked in before? I have worked in the following fields before:- a) general nursing b) theatre management c) psychiatry,Administration in an International Organization(HKI Country Representative in Tanzania from 2002-2007) and now d) ophthalmology and teaching What qualifications do you hold? -Advanced Diploma in Community Ophthalmology -from the International Center for Ophthalmology - London. - Advanced Ophthalmic Nursing Diploma - Diploma in Community-based Rehabilitation Services for the Blind from Tiruchirapalli, India. Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why? I consider formal education more valuable because it is the central hub of all the learning in this world. Once someone has formal education, it is always easy to prosper to other levels of education. Describe the benefits of working with others We all have to work as a "Team". No one can accomplish a given task properly without consulting/seeking a second opinion from team members. Together we can make a progress. Working with others can also create the urge to learn more and staff members can compete in order to perform better. Describe the benefits of working alone I find it difficult to work alone because in most cases at some point, we need someone to assist us in accomplishing our tasks. Sometimes working alone can make your work boring and impartial. Working alone however can enable you to identify many challenges. What was your worst working experience? My worst experience was in Ghana when a group of students I was training decided to riot because the administration was not able to give them their monthly pocket money in a timely manner. If students were informed before hand on the eminent delay(s), there would have been no riots which caused a lot of havoc. What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career? I have learnt that working in harmony can make a competent and able team, most of the deadlines can be met without a fuss. I have also learnt that teamwork is the key to all the successes in any given undertakings. Goals are achieved through hard work when there is harmony, peace, meetings to discuss the successes and failures and above all, setting up goals and performing mid-term and summative evaluations after planning and re-planning. I have also learnt that monthly, quarterly and annual reports are important tools on the managerial side. I have also learnt throughout mmy career that human beings are unique and as such, they have to be treated equally and with respect. What unique skills do you have? I have the following unique skills:- a) Driving and basic mechanics (cars, motorcycles and trucks) b) Computer knowledge with a typing speed of 80 words per minute using ("a blind method"). c) I can work in almost any medical department ranging from general care, emergency, paediatric, operating theatre, orthopaedic, psychiatric, Ear, nose and throat, ophthalmic and commmunity-based rehabilitation services for the blind. I can teach as well as provide practical skills. I was once a Country Director for Helen Keller International (an International Non-Governmental Organization) in Tanzania from 2002 - 2007. I am able to solicit local and International N.G.Os for funding. What would you consider as your 'dream job'? I would consider my 'dream job' being able to teach mid-level health workers and to follow-up students in their clinical areas as an instructor. Being in the classroom with students, teaching them the basics in health and basic ophthalmology would be very satisfying. What are the most interesting aspects of your field? The most interesting aspects of my field are:- didactic sessions (classroom), practical sessions and organizing and conducting outreach eye services with an aim of 'bridging the gap' between hospitals and community members. What are the least interesting aspects of your field? My least interesting aspects of my field are as follows_ a) waiting for patients to come for health services b) providing routine services in a static clinic or hospital c) not being able to disseminate the knowledge that I have acquired. Please replace this with a question of your own Do we know how many people are suffering in rural areas because of lack of primary health care services in the world and what can we do to alleviate the suffering of those people out there? How can potential employers contact you? Potential employers can contact me through by phone, email and by ordinary mails:- 1: Sidney J. Katala, P.O. Box 1774, Dodoma. Tanzania. 2: by email: sdneyk@yahoo.com 3: my cellphone: +255 787 555 123 | 
