KCCO Low Vision Care Manual compressed
Resources
Monitoring progress towards Universal Health Coverage
Paper published in May 2014 by the World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) on measurement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) aimed at standardising measurement of progress and achievement towards UHC. It includes indicators regarding financial protection and service coverage.
The paper is intended to establish a common framework for measurement of UHC. It is likely to have considerable impact on SDGs and this CAN potentally be very positive if attention to the poorest and marginalised is accounted for. After all UHC is intended to be about tackling inequities and thus reaching those who are most poor and most vulnerable.
There are positive aspects to the current iteration such as attention to out of pocket expenses, BUT as far as service coverage goes, there is nothing in the document to ensure persons with disabilities who potentialy face many barriers to health can indeed access their right to health.
It includes plans to disaggregate data by gender and rural/urban areas, socioeconomic status all of which are laudable. But it excludes disability. This risks marginalising the one billion persons with disability worldwide.
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Open Working Group Proposed Goals and Targets (as of 2nd June)
One of the main outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, was the agreement by Member States to launch a process to develop a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Rio+20 did not elaborate specific goals but stated that the SDGs should be limited in number, aspirational and easy to communicate. The goals should address in a balanced way all three dimensions of sustainable development and be coherent with and integrated into the UN development agenda beyond 2015.
A 30-member Open Working Group (OWG) of the General Assembly was tasked with preparing a proposal on the SDGs. The Open Working Group was established on 22nd of January 2013. In August 2014, the OWG produced a proposal on sustainable development goals, for consideration and appropriate action by the UN General Assembly.
The proposal is made of 17 goals and 169 targets. It features a number of references to persons with disabilities and a specific goal on health, including a target to end epidemics of neglected tropical diseases by 2030 and achieve universal health coverage.
Full report of the Open Working Group of the General Assembly on Sustainable Development Goals is issued as document A/68/970, available at http://undocs.org/A/68/970
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Low Vision Work Group Terms of Reference
It is estimated that about 80 million adults and children have low vision and thus have a potential need for low vision services. A global survey published in 2011 showed that only a very small proportion of people with low vision have access to services (see Chiang PPC, O’Connor PM, Le Mesurier R, Keeffe JE. A global survey of low vision service provision. Ophthalmic Epidemiology. 2011;18(3):109-121). Some countries do not yet have low vision services and in many less than 20% of people who possibly need services are able to benefit from them.
In recognition of the need to support establishing and expanding low vision services, the IAPB has formed a technical working group with membership from across the regions. The aim of the Low Vision Work Group (LVWG) is to provide leadership for IAPB Members and other stakeholders on priority matters relating to low vision.
Roles of the LVWG
- Advocate to raise the profile of low vision and communicate progress.
- Act as an advisory group for training and capacity development in low vision.
- Provide technical assistance for development of low vision services and programmes.
- Facilitate and advise on research and innovation for strengthening low vision programmes.
Low Vision Curriculum
The LVWG has written curricula in low vision for ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic mid-level personnel, educators/ teachers and rehabilitation personnel. The curricula are intended for inclusion in undergraduate courses or as postgraduate “stand alone” courses for the five different cadres.
- Low Vision Module for Ophthalmology Curriculum
- Low Vision Module for Optometry Curriculum
- Low Vision Curriculum for Teachers
- Low Vision Curriculim for CBR workers
- Low Vision Curriculum for Refractionist Training
Current priorities of the LVWG
- IAPB Standard List – a Sub-committee of the LVWG was formed to revise the Essential List for Low Vision which provides information and advice on low vision devices and technology and the group will continue to monitor the need for changes in the List. The list will be available here
- Low Vision National Focal Person Courses – 6 courses have been conducted training people as National Focal Persons in development and management of low vision in their countries. The courses trained a total of 126 ophthalmologists, optometrists or rehabilitation trainers working in low vision. To meet the needs of the Global Action Plan – Universal Eye Health it is proposed to develop a leadership course on low vision at regional level.
- The LVWG will seek to work with the WHO Collaborating Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired in Rome as they begin to develop universal standards for low vision care for use by WHO to provide guidance to WHO Member States on vision rehabilitation.
- The latest activity is to develop a set of indicators to be used at national level to plan, monitor and evaluate low vision services.
If you are interested in contributing to the work group, do get in touch.
Resources
Low Vision Resource Centre – all devices and materials on the Standard List (plus many more) are on the inventory of the Low Vision Resource Centre (LVRC) at the Hong Kong Society for the Blind.
Recent news
Peter Ackland on Low Vision Curriculum
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What is avoidable blindness and visual impairment – low vision
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International Standards for Vision Rehabilitation International Consensus Conference Report
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RTS Cameroon Evaluation Report 2014
This document provides an assessment of the Right to Sight, Seeing is Believing: “Increased access to affordable high quality eye care services in Douala, Cameroon” programme at ACHA Douala Hospital, Cameroon.
The main goal of this programme was to significantly reduce the prevalence of blindness in Douala, improving the quality of life for the reversibly blind and those at risk of blindness. This evaluation assesses the programme implementation and results.