Association of Community Ophthalmologists of India
ACOIN
Organising CME, Survey, Conference and Training Programme.
Genesis:
Indian Alumni Group of ICEH (International Centre for Eye Health), London was instituted with the intention of building a global platform for the exchange of ongoing ideas and subsequent implementation of Community Ophthalmic Practice in and around Indian subcontinent (SAARC countries). Members of that group from the developing countries went for their training in Community Ophthalmology at the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), London (a WHO Collaborating Centre). The training had helped them to implement the goal of Prevention of Blindness in this under developed part in and around India under their National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Blindness in respective countries. In this context successful implementation of any Programme depends on proper review and follow up of the activities. This assembly of Alumni of ICEH, London tried to follow up their performance in the light of their training at their Alma mater, International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) at London.
Important pictures of immense antique value in this slide show
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Prologue:
Dr. Swapan K Samanta & Dr. Asim K. Sil of West Bengal jointly convened a meeting to form this platform of Alumni Group of ICEH in October, 2000. Ultimately in January, 2001 under the leadership of the founder President Prof. I. S. Roy, estwhile Director of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Calcutta and a short term observer of ICEH, London the 1st Annual Meet was organised. This Indian Alumni Group of ICEH, London was founded with only nine members. The Indian ex-students / short term visitors / observers at the ICEH, London including the colleagues from Nepal and the Graduates from International Centre for Advancement in Rural Eye Care (ICARE, LVPEI, Hyderabad and ophthalmologists interested in Community Ophthalmology assembled under the banner of this organisation. About 160 members of different categories including 70 Alumni of ICEH had enrolled in the Group upto 31st. January, 2009. Being motivated by the gallore of activities of the group more and more eye health care personnel expressed their keen interest to join this organisation.
However the latest policy laid down by the alma mater (ICEH) did not allow inclusion of these intended members who had not undergone any sort of training at ICEH, London. On the contrary the general body of the group passionately felt the practical need of inclusion of all these interested members into the group as Community Ophthalmologists. So the Indian Alumni Group of ICEH, London was dissolved on 4th. February, 2009 in the general body meeting at Jaipur during the IXth Annual Meet of the group and at the same time Indian Association of Community Ophthalmologists (INACO) was established. Successful annual meet was conducted under the banner of INACO at Science City, Kolkata in 2010. Next is the steady walk of hard work, planning and progress.
Epilogue:
Afterwards while registering the assocition with the registrar of the societies the existing protocol and rules of the Government had to be followed and the Association was registered as "Association of Community Ophthalmologists of India" ACOIN. After attaining the prescribed strength of membership ACOIN was affiliated to All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) in the year of 2011.