Mariama Kanu, After losing her sight, Mariama turned to begging. After training, however, she is now about to become a Braille teacher © Phil Wilkonson / Scotland on Sunday / Sightsavers
Change Themes
Change theme one: Health
Worldwide there are 314 million blind and visually impaired people. 75% of this blindness is avoidable. (WHO, 2007 statistics). Avoidable blindness is best eliminated by aligning health systems with government policy. All health programmes should support and strengthen national health systems.
Primary healthcare is the best means of reaching the greatest number of people. Unfortunately Eye health has not always been embedded in primary health care.
In addition, there is a shortage of at least 1.5 million health workers in Africa.
Aims
- (Long term) Governments will ensure that good quality eyecare is universally available to all people as an integral part of wider health systems.
- (The next 5 years) Sightsavers will demonstrate approaches to eye health which are scalable, adaptable and cost effective and which strengthen and support the overall health system.
Change theme two: Education
72 million children, a third of whom are disabled, are not in primary education (UNESCO EFA Global Monitoring Report, 2005). Access for disabled children is not a policy priority in many countries. Lobbying for visually impaired children is most effective as part of advocacy for the inclusion of all disabled children, but with recognition that the diversity of learning needs must be addressed.
A quality education is one of the keys to empowerment, raising self esteem, and lifting people out of poverty (Millenium Development Goal (MDG 2), and Department for International Development (DFID) Education Policy).
Teachers have a responsibility to educate all the children in their class, but do not always have the skills and knowledge to cater for those with special needs.
Aims
- (Long term) Government will ensure that all disabled children have the opportunity to receive a quality education within a wider education system.
- (The next 5 years) Sightsavers will demonstrate approaches to delivering high quality education for visually impaired children in their local context, which are scalable, adaptable and cost effective.
Change theme three: Social inclusion
Many governments do not have effective policies to address disability issues. This needs to be addressed to improve the quality of life of disabled people, especially women and children.
Disabled people suffer from social exclusion, are amongst the poorest and most marginalised in society, and are often not given the chance to maximise their potential. Blind and Disabled Persons Organisations are not always strong enough to advocate effectively. Disability does not feature prominently in the general development agenda. The best way to influence development players is through collaboration.
Aims
- (Long term) Visually impaired people will be equal members of society. Governments will implement their obligations under international conventions for disabled people.
- (The next 5 years) Sightsavers will enable blind and disabled people's organisations to become effective advocates for their members' rights.
Change theme four: Community participation and development
Communities are not always aware of their own health needs (Human Resources for Health: Community Perspectives on the Health Service, 2007). Visually impaired people are not always included in community development programmes. Reversing this situation and encouraging community involvement will help change behaviours and lead to empowerment.
Significant work is being undertaken internationally to establish community approaches to rehabilitation, with an emphasis on political rights, education, livelihoods and social interaction. Eye health programmes have a demonstrable impact on poverty alleviation and the quality of life of individuals and their communities.
Aims
- (Long term) People will actively seek eye health services, and those who are visually impaired will enjoy long term positive change in the quality of their lives through engagement with, and participation in, community development programmes.
- (The next 5 years) Sightsavers' eye health and social inclusion programmes must be deeply rooted in community development.
