According to the Mozambique Poverty Reduction Strategic Programme, only 36% of people have access to a health facility within 30 minutes of their homes. About 30% of the population is not able to access health services and only 50% have access to an acceptable level of health care including eye care. The link between avoidable vision impairment and blindness, and poverty is unfortunately well established.

The ICEE Mozambique Eyecare Project has been in operation since 2009. A major achievement of the project was the opening of the School of Optometry at Universidade Lurio. The projects plan is to train optometric personnel to deliver primary eye care services to the local population of 20 million. There are 56 students currently enrolled in years one, two and three. Twenty new students have enrolled to start their training in 2012.

The Mozambique school project has a very large research component, with the research topics ranging from baseline surveys to pedagogical assessments, service delivery, to North-South relations in development.

Improving access to eye care through increased service delivery is a key focus of Mozambique Eye Care Project. Vision Centres supported by ICEE are planned for development throughout the Nampula province and to other areas to offer comprehensive optometric eye care services to the local communities.

Funders:

• ICEE
• Irish Aid
• AusAid
• Optometry Giving Sight
• Dublin Institute of Technology
• Universidade Lurio

Partners:

• University of Ulster in Northern Ireland
• Mozambique Ministry of Health
• Mozambique Eye Care Coalition
• Africa Vision Research Institute