Partnership between the Islamic Development Bank and a Light for the World – led consortium aims to put an end to avoidable blindness in 13 African countries

IAPB

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is an alliance of civil society organisations, corporates and professional bodies promoting eye health through advocacy, knowledge and partnerships.

Organisation: IAPB

The Islamic Development Bank and a Light for the World – led consortium is aiming to put an end to avoidable blindness in 13 African countries. In 2008, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) launched the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness (AFAB). The first generation of AFAB (2008-2015) focused mainly on treating cataracts. Six million dollars…

March 7, 2019

Reminiscences

Victoria Sheffield

President, International Eye Foundation and Vice-President, IAPB

Organisation: International Eye Foundation

On International Women’s Day, Victoria Sheffield, President & CEO, International Eye Foundation and Vice President, IAPB reminisces on her journey in eye care… My wonderful opportunities to build strong friendships, working relationships, and trust were not given lightly, but working hard and proving oneself attracts amazing people who help along the way. I began my…

December 6, 2018

USAID launches new NTD programme for West Africa

IAPB

Organisation: IAPB

USAID has officially launched its latest Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) programme which has just been named the Act to End NTDs – West program. The $200 million programme will help to control or eliminate trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (including hookworm, roundworm and whipworm) in 11 West African countries including Benin, Burkina Faso,…

November 20, 2018

Creating a Comprehensive Child Eye Health Network

George W. Smith

Director, North Asia

Organisation: Orbis International

On World/Universal Children’s Day, George Smith, Orbis International on their five-year Seeing is Believing Project in Shanxi, China and how it has created a Comprehensive Child Eye Health Network. China faces significant issues in many areas of child eye health. The Chinese Ministry of Education’s report (“China’s First Oversight Report on Quality of Compulsory Education) highlights…

October 24, 2018

IAPB members celebrate World Sight Day 2018: a social media round-up

Saloni Nagpaul

Communications Coordinator

Organisation: IAPB

This year’s World Sight Day is just past (11th October 2018 to be exact). World Sight Day was celebrated across the IAPB membership with press conferences, walks, outreach activities, events with MoH, and more, and we loved seeing all of your celebrations and tags on social media. We have already received emails from many of…

July 26, 2018

Pioneering Community-Based Ivermectin Distribution in Cameroon

Victoria Sheffield

President, International Eye Foundation and Vice-President, IAPB

Organisation: International Eye Foundation

When Merck and Company made Mectizan® available for mass distribution, grants from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the River Blindness Foundation enabled IEF to pioneer the first “community-based” Mectizan® distribution programme in Africa. This was done in 1990 in collaboration with Africare in Adamawa Province, Nigeria. At the same time, the first…

June 13, 2018

Eye Health in A Crisis: Rohingya Refugee Camp Need Analysis

Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota

IAPB South East Asia Regional Coordinator

Organisation: IAPB

May 2018 saw me evaluating eye health in one of the biggest refugee camps for displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh. In 2017, the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazaar on Bangladesh’s border with Myanmar saw the biggest ever influx of refugees–nearly 690,000 refugees–after clashes broke out in Myanmar in August. The camps merged into one taking in…

September 26, 2017

Dr Cohn, recipient of AAO Humanitarian Service Award

IAPB

Organisation: IAPB

Dr. Howard Cohn has been announced as the 2017 recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (AAO) Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award. The recognition, which will be bestowed at the AAO’s annual meeting in November, recognizes Academy members for contributions in charitable activities that are above and beyond the typical duties of an ophthalmologist. Cohn was…