Elsie Patrick Ifon is a highly motivated public health practitioner and optometrist with over 25 years of experience in both private and public sectors in Nigeria. She has a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Leeds and postgraduate qualifications in optometry. Her experience includes managing eye clinics and community outreach programs focused on increasing access to eye care. She is skilled in program design, monitoring and evaluation, and has conducted research on topics like intimate partner violence and refractive errors.

1. ELSIE PATRICK IFON
29 Edohoeket Street, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Email: lc2bg@yahoo.com. Mobile: +234 8023233439 Skype: lcjpikin
A highly motivated Public Health practitioner with critical thinking ability, strong passion for
community service and gender programs; as well as an experienced Optometrist with
demonstrable patient and organisational management ability in the private and public
sectors. Possess exceptional ability to work either independently or as a proactive team
player, Able to demonstrate excellent soft skills to communicate articulately with
stakeholders at all levels and effectively resolve complex problems to achieve a win-win
situation.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Resultoriented Abilitytothinkcreatively Works well withminimal supervision
Self-motivated Conflictresolutionskills Excellentcommunication andwritten skills
SKILLS PROFILE
Self-motivation and enthusiasm
 Enthusiastic about learning and research in multi-cultural environments.
 Flexibility and ease of adaptability to different cultures and living environments
Teamwork
 Participated and worked successfully in a variety of multidisciplinary and multicultural team
settings in Nigeria and United Kingdom.
 Possession of good interpersonal and people management skills.
Computer and technical skills
 ProficientinMicrosoftWord,Excel,PowerPointandPublisher.Also good in using bibliographic
managementsoftware programslikeEndNote andsoftwarepackageslike SPSS and Epi-Info for
epidemiological and statistical analysis.
 Use of epidemiological/statistical skills to analyse health needs and trends.
 Research skills spanning study conceptualisation, design, analysis and implementation.
 Able todesigndisease control programs, create action plan for management and allocation of
resources and time.
 Monitoring and evaluation of disease control programs.
 Knowledgeable in quantitative and qualitative analytical methods of research.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
Master of Public Health (International) University of Leeds, United Kingdom 2013 – 2014
Doctor of Optometry (OD) University of Benin, Nigeria 1995 – 1997
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Optometry Universityof Benin, Nigeria 1986 – 1990
WORK EXPERIENCE
SENIOR OPTOMETRIST – Head of Eye Department, Immanuel General Hospital, Eket, Nigeria
2011–Date
Responsibilities:
 Optometric assessment of patients, treatment and/or referral for further interventions.
 Arranges outreach programs in nearby communities in response to the poor uptake of
optometric services thereby creating awareness and combatting ignorance.
 Inter-departmental collaborations within the Hospital through referrals, case reviews during
health talks and follow-up on patients who are too ill to return to the eye clinic in other units.

2. Key achievements:Expandedthe eye clinic, set up patient database and patient recall system.
MANAGING OPTOMETRIST – Managing Partner, Iris Vision Ltd, Eket, Nigeria 1999 – Date
Responsibilities:
 Takingeye healthservicestothe doorstepsof people inthe rural communities underthe ‘No to
Blindness campaign’. Partners with various NGOs, CBOs and philanthropic bodies to carry out
eye test and give free eye glasses and drugs.
 Collaborates with ophthalmologists for referral of surgical cases within the community.
 Resolves clients’ complaints through problem solving and conflict management skills.
 Provides routine examination of patients and handles the day-to-day running of the clinic.
Keyachievements: Increasedcommunityawarenessof the needforuptake of eye care services
and improved patients’ trust in the eye care services particularly in deprived communities.
OPTOMETRIST - Niger Optical Services, Eket, Nigeria 1993 - 1995
Responsibilities
 Treatment and management of patients.
 Ensured prescriptions were dispensed accurately by confirming prescription before and after
dispensing, this reduced patients’ complaint or return of lenses.
 Confirmed and managed referrals.
Key achievements: Improved patient counseling thus promoting patient compliance.
OPTOMETRIST - Eugene Vision Centre, Calabar, Nigeria 1991 -1993
Responsibilities
 Examined, treated and managed patients.
 In charge of stocking lenses and drugs, ensuring timely requisition of out-of-order items.
Key achievements: Improved patient and clinic management.
INTERN OPTOMETRIST (National Youth Service Corps) - Enugu, Nigeria 1990 – 1991
Responsibilities
 Examined and treated patients.
 Reviewed cases with colleagues.
POSITIONS HELD
Vice Chairman, Doctors of Optometry in Akwa Ibom State Civil Service 2015- Date
Member, Akwa Ibom State Prevention of Blindness Committee 2009
Publicity/ Community Relations Officer, Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nigeria 2007– 2010
Local Organizing Committee Chairman, 2007 National Conference of Nigerian
Optometric Association
State Chairman, Nigerian Optometric Association, Akwa Ibom State Chapter 2005 - 2009
State Vice Chairman, Nigerian Optometric Association, Akwa Ibom State Chapter 2002 - 2005
Initiator, Child Education Trust (CET) 1999-2001
RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND COURSES/CONFERENCES ATTENDED
 MPH Dissertation August, 2014
Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria: The Attitude and
Behaviour Options.
 B.SC Project August 1990
Refractive Error in Patients with Visual Hallucination
 Study Tour, Geneva, Switzerland March, 2014

3. Lectures on various Public Health issues at World Health Organisation (WHO), International
Committee of the RedCross/RedCrescent (ICRC),UNAIDS and World Vision.
 African Council of Optometrist Continuing Education, Accra, Ghana August, 2012
Lectures on Eye Health care delivery services.
 Low Vision/Rehabilitation Training, Port Harcourt, Nigeria August, 2008
Lectures on management of low vision patients using low vision aids, counseling and
rehabilitation
 CEDPA Global Women in Management Course, Abuja, Nigeria June 2008
Lecture on management, leadership and technical skills for empowerment and community
services.
 African Council of Optometrist Continuing Education, Durban, South Africa March, 2007
Topic: The role of optometry in the health care system in Africa.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Christian Service Committee, St. Gregory’s Church, Eket 2011- 2013
 Identified appropriate skills providers.
 Coordinated skills acquisition for youths in the church.
 Pioneered a mentoring program for the youths.
 Organized regular seminar and workshops for topical issues on youths and women.
Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nigeria (WEAN) 2007 – 2010
Position: Publicity/ Community Officer
 Addressed gender related issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, genital mutilation
counseling, HIV counseling.
 Resource persons at women’s health talks and other fora.
 Liaison person between Organisation and Skill providers
Management of Motherless Babies’ Home, Onna, Nigeria 1999 - 2001
 Collaborated with the Local Government Council to manage the home.
 Ensured availability of basic needs for the home like food and clothes and security.
 Got ExxonMobil and other Institutions to make donations to the home.
 Celebrated various events with the children and took them out on special occasions.
HOBBIES
Reading: enjoy reading both academic and non-academic books
Travelling: meeting people from various cultural backgrounds
Service to humanity: is my best work of life. Making a difference where and when it matters is very
fulfilling.
REFEREES
Available upon request