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Dedicated professionals. Samina, a Lady Health Supervisor at the Maternal and Child Health Care Centre in Kathore, Karachi, with her daughter. © Jamshyd Masud / Sightsavers
Reaching the most vulnerable
Our Irish-Aid funded programme in Pakistan is working to improve access to preventive eye care for 2.7 million people, the majority of whom are women and children who face particular challenges in accessing health care services.
Lady Health Workers
In Pakistan, the chances of becoming blind are 30 per cent higher if you are a woman and with women less likely to be educated than men, they are also less likely to be aware that blindness can often be prevented and cured. Working with the government and their network of over 100,000 Lady Health workers, we are using existing systems to bring quality eye care to women and children who otherwise would have missed out.
The Lady Health Workers also act as positive role models for other women and girls, empowering them to become actively involved in their communities. Samina, is a Lady Health Supervisor based in the district of Karachi. She had dreamed of becoming a doctor, but due to limited resources and the distance from her village to Karachi, she was unable to fulfil this dream. Yet, by becoming a Lady Health Worker she now brings vital healthcare into the heart of the community.
After starting out as a Lady Health Worker in 2006, her hard work and dedication were soon rewarded with a
promotion to Lady Health supervisor. Samina was trained as a master trainer for primary eyecare with support
from Sightsavers and our partners. Samina and her Lady Health Workers are trained to provide first aid for basic eye problems and then to refer on more difficult cases. The key to the success of the Lady Health Workers is that they work within the community, ensuring that noone misses out. In a society where women, in particular, may have problems accessing health services, the Lady Health Workers provide a truly vital service.
Achievements
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