BIOSKETCHDr Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy is a Senior Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, an experienced optometrist, and a public health researcher with over 27 years of teaching experience. She has lectured extensively at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in areas including ocular disease, low vision, clinical sciences for optometry, clinical optometry and visual science. In addition to her academic work, she has extensive experience in the international non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector, working at the Brien Holden Vision Institute. Here she served most notably as the Associate Editor of BHVI’s Global Optometry Resources platform, supporting developing optometry institutions around the world. Dr Govender-Poonsamy continues to demonstrate significant leadership in global eye health, serving as the Executive Director of the Global Ophthalmic Institute, and as a consultant for the World Health Organisation’s Vision and Eye Care Programme, developing technical products and supporting the Global SPECS2030 initiative.
Her professional leadership roles are numerous and impactful, including serving as Secretary of the Global Optometry Public Health Alliance and as a member of the WHO’s Technical Working Group for the Package of Eye Care Interventions. She has been instrumental in developing curricula and supporting emerging African optometry institutions. Her research focuses on public health, particularly refractive error services and child eye health, resulting in numerous publications in local and international journals, including two book chapters. Dr Govender-Poonsamy supervises numerous national and international postgraduate students, contributing significantly to research capacity development in the field and advancing eye care on a global scale.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Public Health Optometry
LIST OF PUBLICATION
2026 Abaidoo, B., Mashige, K. P., Govender-Poonsamy, P. Establishing consensus on the appropriate tool for measuring adherence to glaucoma medication in a sub-saharan African population: A multidisciplinary Delphi–based study. Public Health Challenges, 5(2): e70222. https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70222
2026 Chan VF, Albaba YAA, Buthelezi S, Yong AC, Mavi S, Kibreab F, Shah K, Jones J, Govender-Poonsamy P, Ebri AE, Graham C, Graham R, Othman O, Mashayo E, Omar F, Faal H. From blurry to bold: The case for presbyopia care and education for older women in low- and middle-income countries. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2026.101465.
2025 Pan, W., Morgan, I., Flitcroft, I., Rose, K., Ostrin, L. A., Rosenfield, M., Govender-Poonsamy, P., Siu-Villaseñor, D., Kaymak, H., Khew, J. M., Woo, O., Tsubota, K., Shinde, L., Prenat, O., Ma, J., Qu, J., Yang, Z., Wang, Y., Tan, K. O., Davis, A., … Lan, W. (2025). The need to address the myopia pandemic: summary report of the global myopia public health summit 2024. Global health research and policy, 10(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-025-00445-7
2025 Anne E, Govender P, Naidoo K, Albert F, Shah K, Chan V. Understanding barriers to spectacle wear compliance among schoolchildren in Calabar Nigeria: A qualitative study. AJO International, 2(3).
2025 Govender-Poonsamy P, Mashige KP, Bhawanibik A, Maphanga NA, Mngadi N, Neno S, Ngcobo NT, Sangweni NF, Chan VF. Validating teachers for Visual Acuity Screening in rural South African schools. African Vision and Eye Health, 84(1): 1-7.
2025 Abaidoo B, Govender-Poonsamy P, Mashige K. Short- and long-term effectiveness of interventions for improving adherence to glaucoma medications. African Vision and Eye Health, 84(1), 1-9.
2025 Abaidoo B, Mashige KP, Govender-Poonsamy P, Tagoe NN, Essuman VA, Adam SY. Glaucoma Disease-Specific Adherence Measurement Tools Validated for Measuring Adherence to Glaucoma Medications: A Systematic Review. Health Science Reports. 8: e70427.
2025 Osuagwu UL, Rasengane T, Ovenseri-Ogbomo GO, Nsubuga N; Govender P, Metsing TI, Kyeremeh S, Mashige KP, Daoudu D, Ekpenyong B, et al. Mapping the landscape of optometric education in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clinical and Experimental Optometry. 1–11.
2024 Kwarteng MA, Mashige KP, Kyei S, Dogbe DSQ, Govender-Poonsamy P, Asomani C, Kwarteng D, Hayford-Mbrah G, Berchie MO, Kwarteng MKD. Visual impairment and refractive error among deaf and hard of hearing learners in Ghana. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 118(5), 336-348.
2024 Abaidoo B, Mashige KP, Govender-Poonsamy P. Development of a patient-centred toolkit for improving glaucoma medication adherence: a motivational interviewing approach. Health Sciences Investigations Journal. 6(2):892-902.
2024 Abaidoo B, Mashige KP, Govender-Poonsamy P, Agyei NA, Mahama S. Development and testing of the KPM app, a mhealth intervention for improving glaucoma medication adherence in a Sub-Saharan African population. Journal of Ghana Science Association. 22(2): 10-18.
2024 Kwarteng MA, Mashige KP, Kyei S, Govender-Poonsamy P, Dogbe DSQ. Impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana. Afr Vision Eye Health. 2024;83(1), a875.
2024 Kwarteng MA, Mashige KP, Kyei S, Govender-Poonsamy P, Dogbe DSQ. Compliance with spectacle wear among learners with hearing impairment in Ghana. African journal of disability. 2024; 13: 1-7.
2023 Naidoo KS, Govender-Poonsamy P, Morjaria P, Block S, Yong AC, Chan VF, Bilotto L. Global Mapping of Optometry Workforce. African Vision and Eye Health. 82(1): 1-8.
2023 Govender-Poonsamy P, Yong AC, Mashige KP, Naidoo KS, Chan VF. The impact of spectacle correction on the well-being of children with vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 23, 1575 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16484-z
2022 Munsamy, AJ, & Govender-Poonsamy, P. (2022). Myopia – a 21st-century pandemic leaving our children shortsighted?. South African Medical Journal, 112(9), 740.
2022 Kwarteng MA Mashige KP, Dogbe D, Kyei S, Govender-Poonsamy P. Visual Functioning among Learners with Hearing Impairment in Schools for the Deaf in Ghana. May 2022. Conference: The 1st Deafblind International (DbI) Africa ConferenceAt: Nairobi, Kenya
2022 Chan VF, Belluigi D, Yong AC, Mulewa D, Govender-Poonsamy P, Graham C, Mashay E, Graham R, Price-Sanchez C, Omar F. Co-creating an arts-based eye health education strategy in Zanzibar: process, outcomes and lessons learnt. BMJ Global Health 2022;7:e009317
2022 Keel S, Lingham G, Misra N, et al. Toward Universal Eye Health Coverage—Key Outcomes of the World Health Organization Package of Eye Care Interventions: A Systematic Review. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022;140(12):1229–1238.
2022 Keel S, Govender-Poonsamy P, Cieza A, Faal H, Flitcroft I, Gifford K, He M, Khandekar R, Naidoo K, Oerding M, Ohno-Matsui K, Mariotti S, Wildsoet C, Wolffsohn JS, Wong TY, Yoon S, Mueller A and Dobson R. The WHO-ITU MyopiaEd Programme: A Digital Message Programme Targeting Education on Myopia and Its Prevention. Frontiers in Public Health. 2022; 10:881889.
2022 Kwarteng MA, Mashige KP, Kyei S, Dogbe DSQ, Govender-Poonsamy P. Prevalence and causes of visual impairment amongst hearing impaired school-going children in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. Afri Health Sci. 2022;22(4). 199-204. https://dx.doi. org/10.4314/ahs.v22i4.24
2021 Kwarteng MA, Mashige KP, Naidoo KS, Boadi-Kusi SB, Govender-Poonsamy P. The prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness amongst learners at the Akropong School for the Blind in Ghana. Afr Vision Eye Health. 2021;80(1), a611. https://doi.org/10.4102/aveh.v80i1.611
2019 Ebri A, Govender P, Naidoo KS. Prevalence of vision impairment and refractive error in school learners in Calabar Nigeria. Afr Vision Eye Health. 2019; 78(1), a487.
2018 Adamptey B, Naidoo KS, Govender P. Vision-specific and psychosocial impacts of low vision among patients with low vision at the eastern regional Low Vision Centre. Afr Vision Eye Health. 2018; 77(1), a401. https://doi. org/10.4102/aveh.v77i1.401
2016 Ramson P, Govender P, Naidoo K. Recruitment and retention strategies for public sector optometrists in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Afr Vision Eye Health. 2016; 75(1), a349.
2016 Nsubuga N, Ramson R, Govender P, Chan V, Wepo M, Naidoo KS. Uncorrected refractive errors, presbyopia and spectacle coverage in Kamuli District, Uganda. Afr Vision Eye Health. 2016; 75(1), a327.
2015 Govender P, Ramson P, Visser L, Naidoo KS. Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in the northern eThekwini district of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Afr Vision Eye Health. 2015; 74(1): 1-7.
2015 Naidoo KS, Govender P, Holden BA. The uncorrected refractive error challenge. Journal of Community Eye Health. 2015, 27(88): 74-75.
2014 Naidoo KS, Govender P. A team approach to providing refractive error services. Journal of Community Eye Health. 2014, 27(86): 29-30.
2013 Naidoo KS, Jaggernath J, Martin C, Govender P, Chinanayi FS, Chan VF and Ramson P. Prevalence of Presbyopia and Spectacle Coverage in an African Population in Durban, South Africa. Optometry and Vision Science. 2013: 90(12): 1424-1429.
2012 Mashige KP, Rampersad N, Jhetam S and Govender P. Short-term variation in central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure using the Tono-Pachymeter NT530P (Tonopachy™). The South African Optometrist. 2012 71(1): 12-21.
2011 Govender P, Hansraj R, Naidoo KS and Visser L. Ocular manifestations of HIV/AIDS: A literature review (Part 2). The South African Optometrist. 2011 70(2): 81-88.
2010 Govender P, Hansraj R, Naidoo KS and Visser L. Ocular manifestations of HIV/AIDS: A literature review (Part 1). The South African optometrist. 2010 69(4): 193-199.
2003 Naidoo KS, Raghunandan A, Mashige KP, Govender P, Holden B, Pokharel G and Ellwein LB. Refractive error and visual impairment in African children in South Africa. Investigative ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2003 44 (9): 3764-3770.
2002 Naidoo KS and Govender P. Case Finding in the clinic: Refractive Errors. Journal of Community Eye Health. 2002 15 (43): 39-40.
PUBLISHED CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
2021 Naidoo K, Arvind A, Abesamos-Dichoso C, Tan KO, Govender-Poonsamy P. Optometry in South-East Asia. Chapter 18 in South-East Asia Eye Health: Systems, Practices, and Challenges. Editors: Das T and Nayar PD.
2019 Naidoo KS, Govender P, Naidoo J. Innovative Approaches in the Delivery of Eye Care: Refractive Errors (including Presbyopia). Chapter 11 in Innovative Approaches in the Delivery of Primary and Secondary Eye Care. Editors: Rohit C. Khanna, Gullapalli N. Rao, Srinivas Marmamula.
