Project Background
The Vietnam Child Sight Project is achieving important results in 2018.
Across the broader project, over 119,000 school children have already had their eyes screened this year, and over 4,200 glasses have been distributed.
A key component of this project is the training of teachers and school nurses to conduct child eye care communication, vision tests, referrals for further care, and patient follow-up. This results in a significant increase in the number of children who will be screened and educated in eye health. In the first half of 2018, 320 teachers and school nurses have been trained, and over 90,000 school students have been educated in eye health.
Thanks to your contribution, $20,000 has made the following results possible:
- Screened 1,100 students through school screenings;
- Provided 544 glasses for students; and
- Trained 92 school nurses and teachers on childhood eye care.
Thank you for being a part of this life transforming work.
Case Study: Cam from Vietnam
Seven-year-old Cam was born with cataract in both eyes. By the time she started kindergarten, she was completely blind. She could not read or walk properly and was unable to learn the basic daily activities we take for granted.
Watching their daughter lose her sight was utterly devastating for Cam’s parents. Just a few years ago, the family spent all their money on surgery to save the sight of Cams older brother Quoc. Like any parents, they wanted the best for their daughter, but it was beyond their reach.
Thanks to The Fred Hollows Foundation, young Cam was discovered at an outreach eye camp near her school in Quang Ngai province. She was referred for surgery at Da Nang Hospital, a three hour journey in rugged terrain from their remote village.
For every child with advanced cataract, surgery must be performed with delicate and expert precision. Cam was in excellent hands. Her operation was performed by Dr Ngoc, the head paediatric eye surgeon at Da Nang Hospital.
“I hope to bring back her sight so she can have a normal life, go to school and have a better future. I see Cam as like my child, and I think she deserves the same opportunities as my children.” - Dr Ngoc
Just 24 hours after surgery, Cam’s patches were removed. She didn’t realise she could see at first, but within minutes she broke into a big grin. She was looking towards her father and saw his beaming smile looking back at her.
The sense of relief and joy on Nhat’s face was beautiful to see. A happy, bubbly little girl had emerged, a far cry from the timid and withdrawn child Dr Ngoc met just days before.
What Next?
This project, currently running from January 2016 – December 2018, is a pilot. This pilot is looking at integrating the health and education sectors in Vietnam, with the aim of improving the eye health of school children aged 6-15 years old.
To date, this project has proven a successful model that has had a positive impact on the eye health of children living in the three trial provinces.
At the end of the project period, successes and challenges will be reviewed, and new budgets and activities will be proposed for the following three years, 2019 - 2021.
The Fred Hollows Foundation will continue to work in Vietnam until avoidable blindness has been eliminated. The Foundation is currently implementing nine projects across the country, and will ensure that the work Professor Fred Hollows started more than 25 years ago carries on.
Project Overview
Evidence suggests almost three quarters of a child’s early learning is through vision. Poor vision impacts on childhood development, education, participation in community life and social interaction.
In Vietnam, it is estimated there are 3 million visually impaired children. The Fred Hollows Foundation is working to address this significant need through their “Vietnam Child Sight Project”.
This project is specifically designed to improve the eye health for children aged 6-15 across three provinces of Vietnam. Planned activities include conducting school screenings, providing glasses and treatments for students, as well as conducting training and education sessions for students, teachers and parents.
Key Project Objectives
- To improve policy coordination between education and health sectors in support of a national school eye health program for children.
- To strengthen school staff and eye health personnel capacity to deliver eye care services for school children.
- To improve quality of and increase access to eye care services for children.
- To enhance eye care awareness for children, parents and teachers to support sustainable reduction of visual impairment in communities.
What's Covered in Project Costs
With support from The Footprints Network, this project will achieve the following outcomes in 2018:
- Screen 1,100 students at World Sight Day and International Children’s Day events;
- Provide 544 glasses for students; and
- Train 92 school nurses on childhood eye care, counselling, eye screening, referral processes, reporting and follow-up skills.
How was it this funded?
Thanks to hundreds of tiny donations from these online businesses and their customers.
- World Nomads USA
- World Nomads Canada
- ***World Nomads UK
- Travel Insurance Direct AU
- Travel Insurance Direct NZ
- World Nomads Australia
- World Nomads NZ
The Fred Hollows Foundation is an international development organisation working towards eliminating avoidable blindness and improving Indigenous Australian health. We are inspired by Professor Fred Hollows, a humanitarian, eye surgeon and social activist. Established in 1992, The Foundation continues in Fred’s footsteps and now works in more than 25 countries around the world and here in Australia. Working with in-country partners, we perform surgeries, deliver local training, provide equipment, educate about eye health and advocate for change.