Antonnett DANAH, from Zimbabwe, is pursuing a master of medicine in ophthalmology at the University of Cape Town. As part of her training, she provides specialised eye care services to both Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) and the Groote Schuur Hospital Ophthalmology department. Her research, currently underway at RCWMCH, examines the characteristics of severe eye injuries in children in South Africa.
Antonnett advocates for the prevention and treatment of childhood eye injuries and diseases, which would otherwise result in childhood visual impairment and blindness, poor educational attainment, and psychosocial effects. While working in Zimbabwe, she noticed that childhood eye conditions had far-reaching consequences. It was often the mothers or grandmothers who brought the children to the hospital, having to travel far, and in the process, they would suffer from the associated loss of income. Some would also leave behind their other children unattended, putting them at risk of injuries and harm. Antonnett therefore hopes that her research will help inform and influence preventive and clinical guidelines relevant to low- to middle-income countries, as these are disproportionately affected by the shortage of paediatric ophthalmologists and the burden of childhood eye disease.
After completing her postgraduate studies, Antonnett aspires to establish a dedicated paediatric ophthalmology service in Zimbabwe, where she will continue to improve the quality of life of children with eye conditions. She wishes to collaborate with the government and non-governmental organizations, such as Specsavers, which support several eye programs.
