IAPB 9TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY 201217- 20 SEPTEMBER HYDRABAD INDIA

Partnership beyond eye care 

Coordination of Vision 2020 in West-Africa, an example of partnership

West African Health Organization (WAHO)

Dr Doulaye SACKOVision 2020 Coordinator in W AHO

Dr Irmela ERDMANNWest Africa Regional medical advisor CBM

 

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ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES ( ECOWAS)

15 WEST-AFRICAN STATES

THREE LINGUISTIC BLOCKS8F+ 5A+2L

300 MILLIONS Habitants

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Organisation

Ouest

Africaine de la

Santé (OOAS)

West African HealthOrganisation

( WAHO)

Organizaçao Organizaçao OestOest Africana de Africana de lala Saude Saude (OOAS)(OOAS)

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The West-African Health Organisation (WAHO) is ECOWAS specialized agency for health . Created in 1987 but became operational only in 2000.

WAHO’s Mission:  « the attainment of the highest possible standard and protection of health of the peoples in the region through the harmonisation of policies of member states , pooling of resources , cooperation with one another and others for collective and strategic combat against the health problems in the region ».

Priority: Prevention of Blindness and visual impairment were a priority.

Guiding principles: Vision 2020, the Right to Sight initiativeFocus: Coordination of actions and actors.

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Coordination of vision 2020 in West-AfricaTo achieve the Vision 2020 objectives, WAHO created a partnership of all stakeholders covering all components of eye health.

The West-African Advocacy Forum of Vision 2020 at WAHO : a platform for information exchange, experience for better coordination and implementation of Vision 2020 the Right to Sight in the region. Created in 2002 in Abidjan Approved by theGeneral Assembly of Ministers of ECOWAS in Accra, in 2002.

Forum held bi-annually, brings together all stakeholders in eye health.

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Vision 2020 Forum (Abuja 2006)

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Vision 2020 Forum ( Conakry 2012)

Composition of the ForumA. Action Group B. NGO-Coordination GroupC.Country Coordination Group D.Vision 2020 coordinator post

A. Action Group - members: -3 representatives of MoH(Coordinators of Eye Health Programmes – one per linguistic block),

- Co Chairs of IAPB

-2 Representatives of training and eye health research institutions.

- 2 representatives of the NGO-Coordination Group

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Issues of Interest (2003 – 2012)

- 2003 - Childhood Blindness control

- 2004 - Trachoma control

- 2006 - Scale up of Cataract surgical rate( CSR) in WA

- 2008 -Human Resource Development in eye health

- 2010 - Promotion of eye health in ECOWAS countries (integration of PEC into PHC services)

-2012 -Improving eye health indicators management through the National Health Information Management System in the region

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Training of trainers in sutureless cataract surgery

Strengthening of programmes and eye health services managers’ skills in management, ICT, GIS and data management.

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Human Resources Development

The Sheick Zayed Regional Eye CenterBanjul The Gambia DESSO Conakry Guinea

Development of Infrastructures and Equipments

Sightsavers and patners WAHO Sightsavers and CBM

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Development of Infrastructures and Equipments

Optometry Training Centre in IOTA Bamako Mali

Advocacy and Resource Mobilisation

Resolutions were voted and adopted by the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers

Previous resolutions were focused on how to accelerate the implementation of vision 2020 and improve national financial support to eye health.

Latest resolution outcome led to change of programme name from National Blindness Control Programme to National Eye Health Programme with a holistic approach to eye health

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Advocacy and Resource Mobilisation (ctd)

Mobilization of additional resources that a single country could not mobilize: For example-£1,315,338.00 from Sightsavers and partners for the Sheick Zayed Regional Eye Center

- The DESSO from WAHO CBM Sightsavers …etc

-The optometry training centre in Francophone West Africa from WAHO, IOTA, ICO-France Essilor International, Brien Holden Vision Institute ..etc

 

Visite at the Essilor HQ in Paris

Challenges

In application of the WHA-Resolution 56-26 all stakesholders came together to strenghten ECOWAS Member States with the newly adopted 5-year Vision 2020 plan in 2003.

-Inadequate financial resources.

- Partial programmes implementation .

- Several programmes’ plans overtaken by events

-Limited resources for programme evaluation and review .

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Challenges (ctd)

Given donor fatigue by technical and financial partners, finding new resources to prosecute eye health programmes remains a major challenge

Despite multiple advocacy efforts at the highest level, the effective implementation of resolutions and recommendations continue to be a bottleneck.

Way forward Given the many challenges to tackle, a revision of the time-tested coordination system which has withstood changing contexts could be one answer.

 

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Merci de votre très aimable attention

Thank you for your kind attention

Obrigado

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