In Africa there are an estimated 5.9 million people who are blind and 26.3 million who are visually impaired. This is not a challenge that can be overcome by the NGO sector alone or by “business as usual‟ approaches. It requires a paradigm shift in how eye health services are planned, coordinated and resourced at all levels, ensuring integration with other health systems.
One of the biggest barriers to this transformation and to achieving progress on wider health goals is the critical shortage of health workers. This strategy sets out how IAPB Africa will influence governments and other actors in Africa so that Human Resources for Eye Health (HReH) plans are developed as part of Human Resources for Health (HRH) planning.
This strategy was developed by the IAPB Africa Advocacy Task Team with support from The Pressure Group.