SightFirst ProgramLions Clubs International FoundationLinda Romano-DerrRegional Program Specialist, South Asia

SightFirst ProgramLions Clubs International FoundationLinda Romano-DerrRegional Program Specialist, South Asia

SightFirst

• SightFirst is a global initiative with the purpose of eliminating avoidable blindness as a global public health concern

• Mission: To build comprehensive eye care systems in underserved communities so that high-quality, low-cost, and sustainable services can be provided.

• Lions develop and manage SightFirst projects in partnership with local health authorities, eye care professionals and non-governmental organizations.

SightFirst Accomplishments

• Restored sight to 7.68 million people through cataract surgeries

• 30 million people saved from vision loss

• Provided 147 million treatments for river blindness

• Built or upgraded 704 eye-care facilities

• Trained 659,000 ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses, other professional eye care workers and village health workers

• Established 35 pediatric eye care centers, impacting the lives of 121 million children in partnership with the WHO

MD 322 SightFirst Team: Who’s who?

Zenobia KaikobadDr. Divyesh Shah Linda Romano-Derr

The SightFirst Application Review Process

Possible SAC outcomes:

What elements are we looking for in an application?

• Controlling blinding diseases• Cataract• River blindness• Trachoma• Diabetic retinopathy

• Human resources training

• Strengthening eye care infrastructure

Strongest SightFirst Applications include:

• Detailed, comprehensive project plan that encompasses both prevention and treatment.

• Proposal should focus on how the project will impact a community in need. (Not how it will benefit you)

• Partnerships: the strongest projects include multiple partners, contributors to the overall budget.

• Clear and attainable objectives*

• Strong candidates are hospitals with connections to broader networks. We’re in the business of developing comprehensive eye care systems.

Helpful Tips

• Most proposals focus on more than one disease area (cataract, DR, URE, low vision, etc.)

• Most applicants are either already providing or looking to expand their ability to provide comprehensive eye care services

• Therefore:

• Provide information about existing non-cataract services

• Objectives should include all screened/treated disease areas – not just cataract

• Note: comprehensiveness does NOT mean that every hospital must treat every possible condition.

Key Principles for a strong SightFirst Application

1. Develop comprehensive eye care systems

2. Target underserved populations

3. Deliver high-quality eye care services

4. Create sustainable eye care services

5. Use data to identify and evaluate efforts

6. Hands-on Lions involvement

7. Emphasis on strategic partnerships with corporations,

governments and NGOs.

SightFirst Grants: 11 strategies & 5 objectives

We Care. We Serve. We Accomplish.

COMPREHENSIVENESS

Cataract

Childhood Blindness

Trachoma

Education & Rehabilitation for Blind & Low vision Persons

Eye Health Education

Low Vision

URE

Comprehensive Regional Training

Diabetic Retinopathy

River Blindness

Research

SightFirst portfolio

SightFirst Grants: 11 strategies & 5 objectives

We Care. We Serve. We Accomplish.

Cataract

Childhood Blindness

Trachoma

Education & Rehabilitation for Blind & Low vision Persons

Eye Health Education

Low Vision

URE

Comprehensive Regional Training

Diabetic Retinopathy

River Blindness

Research

Service Delivery

Human Resource Development

Infrastructure Development

Prevention

Monitoring & Evaluation

Objectives

SightFirst Grants: 11 strategies & 5 objectives

We Care. We Serve. We Accomplish.

Cataract

Childhood Blindness

Trachoma

Education & Rehabilitation for Blind & Low vision Persons

Eye Health Education

Low Vision

URE

Comprehensive Regional Training

Diabetic Retinopathy

River Blindness

Research

Service Delivery

Human Resource Development

Infrastructure Development

Detection

Treatment

Rehabilitation

Survey

Eye Care Professionals

Community Health Workers

School Teachers

Prevention

Equipment

Expansion

Advocacy

Public Relations

Education MaterialsMonitoring & Evaluation

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

www.lcif.org