16/09/2025
“WHEN I WAS SELECTED AS THE FIRST COECSA-CEH CANDIDATE FOR THE VITREORETINAL TRAINING PROGRAM, THE JOY WAS OVERWHELMING”
(A reflection by Dr. Habtom Hagos Asgedom, the First COECSA Trained VR Specialist)
Carving a path toward one’s envisioned career demands passion, perseverance, and—just sometimes—a bit of luck. My singular dream to pursue vitreoretinal surgery crystallized the moment I gazed at the fundus through indirect slit lamp biomicroscopy and witnessed a vitrectomy performed by Dr. Tiliksew Teshome during my residency at Addis Ababa University. That spark, however, would flicker uncertainly for years, shadowed by moments of deep frustration and doubt as I searched for a Retina fellowship opportunity that seemed forever out of reach.
In 2017, my transfer from Wolaita University to Saint Paul’s Hospital marked a turning point. Department Head Dr. Bezawit Tadegegn, aware of my aspirations, welcomed me into the Retina Unit. The department, though new, was well-equipped and rapidly growing. I felt fortunate—like my journey had shifted a step closer to its destination. The next year, I received hands-on laser training during the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital's medical retina program, an experience that empowered me to teach second-year ophthalmology residents and above.
But destiny can be unkindly interrupted. As I awaited training in India, the COVID-19 pandemic upended plans, leaving my ambitions in limbo.
The conflict in Tigray and Northern Ethiopia deepened this hardship, bringing psychological and economic strain to me and my family. Retina training often slipped through the cracks of sponsorship priorities, and by 2023, the horizon felt increasingly barren.
Yet I persisted. A silver lining emerged in the form of advanced phacoemulsification training through the Vision Care International PTC program, followed by a brief low vision aid course in Australia—granted through a collaborative glaucoma research initiative led by Dr. Girum.
While attending the training in Adelaide, hope rekindled. A colleague, Dr. Adugna, forwarded me an advert for the COECSA-CEH 18-month hands-on retina fellowship. She encouraged me to apply—there were no barriers. When I was selected as the first candidate for the Vitreoretinal program, the joy was overwhelming—for me, my family, and my colleagues.
Once the elation settled, practical concerns arose: Could I support my family financially for 18 months? Would I gain sufficient surgical exposure within an African setup? Those fears quickly vanished upon arriving in Nairobi and beginning my fellowship at City Eye Hospital. In that first week, it became clear—there would be no compromise in clinical standards. Retina patients were meticulously reviewed via slit lamp and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy, while laser therapy was administered using LIO indirect techniques as protocol.
Surgery days were fully booked—twice weekly—with a range of complex cases. I was introduced by the late Dr. Kibata Amos (MHSRIEP), City Eye Hospital's founder and the driving force behind the fellowship, with a smile to his retina colleagues would say, “Meet my guinea pig.” Yet as I walked this path, guided by the generosity and surgical mastery of Dr. Muchai Gachago and Dr. Catherine Kareko, conviction replaced uncertainty.
Vitreoretinal training is possible in sub-Saharan Africa. The City Eye Hospital fellowship stands as a success story—a trailblazing model for future programs. I hope other centers follow CEH's footsteps and help young ophthalmologists chase their dreams without unnecessary hurdles early in their careers.
NOTE: To find out more about what’s new in COECSA, read our 2024/25 Annual Report available here: https://tinyurl.com/coecsa2025annualreport
