Overview
The Eye Care Group was established in line with the Vision 2020 to support national efforts to achieve the goal of eliminating avoidable blindness in Vietnam. After several informal meetings among some eye care-related NGOs, the idea of having af working group was raised.
Many eye care-related NGOs have already played a significant role in developing eye care services in Vietnam, and some of them have established permanent offices in Vietnam.
The Eye Care Group is open for members of all eye care-related NGOs operating in Vietnam. The founding members are ORBIS, FHF (Fred Hollows Foundation), HKI (Helen Keller International), CBM, ITI (International Trachoma Initiative) and Mekong Eye Doctors. Atlantic Philantropies has also joined the group as a new member.
The term eye care relates to all aspects of activities related to vision care, promotion of eye health, prevention of eye diseases, treatment and rehabilitation, including education of the visually impaired.
Key objectives
- Advocate for and support the development and implementation of a National V2020 Blindness Prevention Strategic Plan in Vietnam
- Promote comprehensive eye care, including prevention, education, rehabilitation and treatment in Vietnam
- Serve as an open forum for information on programmes, project activities, lessons learnt, experiences and best practices regarding comprehensive eye care in Vietnam
- Discuss potential support provided by members of the group to national concerned institutions in the development of Vietnam’s national plan of actions for comprehensive eye care
- Discuss potential collaboration among related organisations and institutions working on providing comprehensive eye care
Update on key activities during 2007
Main themes during 2007
- Enhancing the sharing and exhange of information and experiences between member organisations in developing and implementing projects/programs for the prevention of blindness in Vietnam.
- Collaborating with and supporting the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology in conducting a survey the status of blindness in 16 provinces in eight geographic areas of Vietnam.
- Advocate for the establishment of a national steering committee for the prevention of blindness in Vietnam
Future meetings
- December 9-11: Bi-annual MOH-WHO-NGO-VNIO Coordination meeting for the prevention of blindness
- December 24- 28: First meeting of the National Steering Committee, with the participation of the Partnership Working Group
Thematic meetings organised by Eye Care Working Group in 2007
Eye Care WG meeting - 27 September 2007
Meeting to share information on eye care projects and discuss ways to
push forward the process of establishing a national steering committee.
Eye Care WG meeting – 31 October 2007
Briefing meeting with VNIO on progress of the national survey on the status of blindness in Vietnam
Future directions for 2008
- Support activities of the National Steering Committee for the prevention of blindness
- Support the setting up of a Task Force (or a working group) for the development of a national strategy for blindness prevention in Vietnam
- Support the development and implementation of Provincial Action Plans for the prevention of blindness in targeted provinces
