case study of project addressing inequity sumrana yasmin
TRANSCRIPT
Right to Health Care
• Rights are universal; apply to rich and poor; men and women; adults and children in all settings
• Huge inequity is evident - minimum levels of care being unavailable
• Influencing factors:• Health policies; economic structures; urban rural
divide; living and working conditions; cultural, social and community influences; and gender
Low Vision - Coverage• Less than 5% in Asia• Less than 1% in Africa• Better in Europe, Australia and USA but
still less than 30%• Both a cause and consequence of poverty• Geographical coverage!• Concerted efforts - interventions directed
towards the reduction of inequity
Sri Lanka – National Low Vision Program
• Started in 2003 - Provision of quality and effective clinical and rehabilitation services
• NLVP was launched in 2007 by MoH and supported by Sightsavers and Brien Holden Vision Institute
• To develop LV care as part of CEC and create the necessary linkages with other services i.e. education, rehabilitation and social services
• Significant progress has been made• Ten secondary level clinics• Linked to the four tertiary clinics• Three LV resource centres • 7,749 (877, 11% children) have received
low vision services • Approx. 5 folds increase in last 5 years• Number is incrementally increasing
Sri Lanka – National Low Vision Program
Sri Lanka – National Low Vision Program
• Cross-referral within clinical, education, and rehab/disability services
• Foundation for scale up• Next phase focus:
• Integration of LV into CBR program• Engagement with MoE• Addition of LV services
into VCs• Self-help groups
Addressing inequity
• Ownership• HSS is the foundation • LV services at district hospitals and
are easily accessible• Free provision of spectacles
and LVDs• Awareness about the services
is trickling down from health professional to educators to communities
Strategies
• Strategies will vary - there are some principles that apply across
• Include comprehensive low vision care in national eye health plans
• Cross-sectoral collaboration• Health, education, rehabilitation, social services
• Innovative partnerships at various levels• Policy• Planning and implementation
Strategies
• Create peer support groups and role model
• Lead to enabling environment for quality inclusive systems
• Promote equity and equality • Ensure that we reach the
un-reach