With over 10 million Tanzanians struggling with poor vision simply due to the need for an eye examination and a pair of glasses, the country is in great need of increased eye care services. The launch of six Vision Centres supported by ICEE in regional hospitals across Tanzania, is a major advancement for the people whose education and employment opportunities are currently restricted due to vision impairment.
For ICEE, 2011 was a big year in Tanzania. Two new Vision Centres opened in Zanzibar, and six opened in the regions of Dodoma, Iringa, Mbeya, Singida, Ruvuma, and Mwanza, This brings the national total to 14, offering full eye care resources to communities for the first time in these areas. The Vision Centres act as a referral point for the local health centres and cottage hospitals already established, helping to integrate the new eye care services into the existing health system more effectively.
ICEE actively promotes the development of best-practice policies and strategies at the international level amongst other international blindness prevention NGOs, supporting network development and is committed to adhering to these in the implementation of its own programmes and partnerships in the field. ICEE also supports the aims of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight, a global initiative to eliminated avoidable blindness and vision impairment by International Agency for the Prevention of Blind and the World Health Organization.
Funders:
Partners:
- IAPB
- Ministry of Health Tanzania
- Department of Education
- Tanzania Optometric Association
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