The 'Eye Mitra' Optician Certificate course of one year affiliated by the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), West Bengal is a skill development training programme launched in joint collaboration with Susrut Eye Foundation & Research Centre, Kolkata. The students can be admitted in this certification programme after they complete at least their Madhyamik course. The objective is to address the growing need of skilled human resource in the eye care sector. MAKAUT hopes that this demand for opticians will help to create employment. The programme will develop an individual into a skilled 'Eye Mitra' Optician and creates a pathway for sustainable livelihood.
The Certificate course has been launched with 37 students from the 24th of April and is being conducted at Susrut Eye Foundation & Research Centre’s Salt Lake (Kolkata) campus. It will also be conducted at Susrut's Berhampore (Murshidabad) campus in future. Within the one year course, 6 months are alloted for theory and practical classes and the rest 6 months consist of field training. The course has the provision to admit new batch of students after six months.
In this course candidates are trained in community–based activities like screening the eyes of the local people, dispensing spectacles and also educating the people on various aspects of eye care. They are capable of performing certain administrative tasks and duties which include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records and clinical duties, recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination and dispensing ophthalmic prescriptions. In brief Eye Mitra Opticians are well trained to establish optical start-ups of their own as well as work under ophthalmologists in any hospital, clinic or optical shop.
Eye Mitra Opticians will have analytical skill and they will develop mechanical aptitude also. Understanding the work ethics characterized by dedication and persistence and the ability to deal tactfully with patients are some essential qualities to become a successful Eye Mitra Optician.
Attentive first batch of students at Susrut Eye Foundation's Salt Lake Centre.
Student-teacher interaction at Susrut.
CAREER GROWTH – EYE MITRA OPTICIAN CERTIFICATE COURSE
If one is looking for a short-term training programme that will lead to an entry level job, this course will not disappoint the candidate who wants to build a career in Eye Health Care sector.
The Hon'able Vice-Chancellor of the University Prof. Dr. Saikat Maitra is hopeful that Eye Mitra Opticians will be able to get wide opportunities to establish their own business of Optical Shops and become self-reliant. They can also assist and work under qualified ophthalmologists and optometrists in any eye clinic, hospital, eye-care center, nursing home or NGO. They can also participate in population screening programmes.
This career has long-term prospect and one can attain higher levels of salary and responsibility. MAKAUT wants to guide the aspirants of this profession to help them take off into a bright future.
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