Country Snap Shot & Eyecare Profile
	Country Eritrea Region Africa Capital Asmara Area 121,320 Geography Provinces / Districts *Population 4,786,994 *Population Below Poverty Line 50.0% *Infant Mortality/1000 births 46.30 *GDP Per Capita ($US) $1,000 Schools of Optometry 0 Optometrists NA Opticians NA Ophthalmologists NA Eye Health Workers NA Optometrist Association NA Vision 2020 Signatory  NA Vision 2020 National Plan NA National Eye Health Plan NA

Project Manager

Project Personnel

Project Aim
To establish affordable refractive services for Eritrea.

Project Commencement
2003

Project Background / History
Eritrea, in the Horn of Africa, borders the Red Sea. It has an estimated population of 4.7 million, with the majority (80%) residing in rural areas. Blindness is a major public health problem in Eritrea. There are an estimated 30,000 blind people, and a further 90,000 with visual impairment.

There are only a handful of refractionists providing refraction services. Spectacles are available in the capital city of Asmara, but only intermittently in other major urban centres and rarely to more remote rural areas. Where spectacles are available, at US$15 they are too expensive for the majority of the population. In collaboration with partner organisations, ICEE contributed to refraction training and establishing a supply of affordable spectacles for Eritrea.

Project Activities
In 2003, Dr Desbele Ghebregerghis, National Chief Ophthalmologist, requested ICEE to conduct a refraction training course in Eritrea. As a result, ICEE together with the Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia conducted a two week refraction training program for eight nurses.

The aim of the course was to train the nurses working in provincial eye clinics in refraction skills. Once trained the nurses would then be able to support local eye doctors by being able to measure refractive error and dispense spectacles. Eight sets of refraction equipment were donated to the provincial hospitals in which the nurses were based, so that the skills learned would not be lost due to a lack of equipment.

In order to ensure patients in the provinces would have access to spectacles after their vision tests, ICEE provided readymade spectacles as a seed donation to set up a revolving fund for the repurchase of spectacle stock.

In 2004, ICEE returned to Eritrea to provide refresher training and to evaluate the functioning of the refraction and spectacle system, as well as to make recommendations to the Eritrean Ministry of Health regarding the ongoing development of national refraction services.

Project Achievements
All trainees had delivered some refraction services since completing their course. However, some had faced barriers to service provision. These barriers were discussed and addressed in collaboration with the Eritrean Ministry of Health. Strategies were identified to overcome them.

ICEE affordable spectacles were found to be very popular at a price of 40 Nakfa (less than US$4). Further bulk orders for spectacles will be placed by the MOH, continuing their supply to the provincial level.

Project Partners
Eritrean Ministry of Health
Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia

Project Sponsors

Personal Story