ICEE first became involved in Cambodia in 2004 when it was engaged by CBM and the Disability Action Council of Cambodia to conduct a situational analysis of refractive error services. Together with the Cambodian Optometrists Association (COA) and the National Programme for Eye Health, ICEE helped develop a three month refraction training curriculum, approved by the Ministry of Health, and conducted a 'Train the Trainers' programme for refraction trainers at COA. Three years later, following an invitation to collaborate on developing a National Refraction Training Centre in Cambodia, ICEE work in Cambodia developed further.

The first ICEE Vision Centre in Phnom Penh opened in June 2009 and two years later five new Vision Centres, supported by ICEE, opened across regional Cambodia in the provinces of Battambang, Kampot, Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham and Pursat.

ICEE focuses on developing sustainable systems that are culturally appropriate and will last beyond ICEE involvement in each specific country. The support and involvement of local governments ICEE believes is critical to the success of eye care education and service delivery initiatives.

This increase in vision care delivery through regional Cambodia follows the 2010 official launch of the Avoidable Blindness Initiative (ABI) at the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh. In the 2011 federal budget, the Australian Government reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating avoidable blindness and vision impairment in the Asia Pacific with the announcement of AU$21.3 million dedicated to the next phase of ABI development.

The ABI funding is managed by the Vision 2020 Australia Global Consortium, a partnership of nine Australian eye health and vision care organisations including ICEE, working towards eliminating avoidable blindness and vision loss in the Asia Pacific region.

Funders:

• ICEE
• Vision 2020 Australia's Global Consortium
• Avoidable Blindness Initiative (ABI)
• CBM

Partners:

• CBM
• Fred Hollows Foundation
• Provincial Health Departments and the National Program for Eye Health
• Cambodian Ministry of Health
• International Resources for Improvement of Sight (IRIS)
• SEVA Foundation.