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Janet Albu OBE |
Pioneer with mission to help people with poor sight
JANET Albu OBE, the glamorous optometrist who devoted her life to patient welfare, lost her battle with leukaemia this week.
Mrs Albu, 73, who lived with her husband Martin in Swain’s Lane, Highgate, died on Monday, after battl ing cancer since 1979.
She was acclaimed for her work in Pakistan and India, where she developed a pioneering programme to help people with poor sight.
Mrs Albu was well known in Camden for her tireless work as chairwoman of University College London Hospital (UCLH) patient and public involvement (PPI) forum and with Camden’s Age Concern.
As an optometrist, Mrs Albu worked for more than 30 years at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where she was head of department. She was invited to lecture worldwide on visual disability in developing countries and served on the World Health Organisation.
She recently said: “I had up to six postgraduate students to supervise at any one time. My postgrads are now academics and head hospital departments all over the country. A significant number have higher degrees. They are a great source of pride.”
Her husband, Martin, said: “She sowed the seeds of Pakistan’s low-vision programme, helping people with poor sight, a whole new field of work. She developed this at Moorfields and went round the world teaching.
“She will want to be remembered for her work in vision and healthcare. She got the OBE for services to healthcare and optometry.”
He added: “It was both our second marriages. We had five children between us and treated them all equally and loved them all equally.”
Arthur Brill, chairman of the Royal Free Hospital PPI, said: “We meet a large number of people in our lives but only a few really stand out and Janet was one of them.
“She was a great help to me and I’m sure to many others. She made no complaint in having to undergo the extensive medical attention she needed. For a little lady she had a big heart.”
Pauline Cheeseman, of Age Concern, Camden, said: “Janet was a huge inspiration. I admired her spirit and determination to continue to usefully contribute her many talents and experiences for the benefit of others, in spite of her health problems.
“She was not content to sit back and let life pass her by.”
A UCLH spokesman said: “All who knew Janet Albu were sad to hear of her death. Janet played an important role as chair of our patient forum, developing the trust’s relationship with patients and the public over the last two years. She took her role as a critical friend of the trust very seriously.”
The funeral is at Golders Green Crematorium next Thursday, April 5, at 2pm.
ROISIN GADELRAB |
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