Fred’s dream spreads in Laos

Foundation CEO Brian Doolan met with local representatives to sign off on a plan to restore sight through the Sustainable Comprehensive Eye Care Project.

The goal of the Project is to reduce avoidable blindness in Lao PDR through improving access to high quality, sustainable and affordable eye care services for people in the four northern provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Phongsaly.

The project will be run in collaboration with the Lao PDR Ministry of Health, initially from 2008 to 2010, with the overall aim of tackling avoidable blindness through five core elements, including:

1. Research – Undertaking research to inform and measure the impact of blindness prevention interventions

2. Human Resource Development – To enhance the capacity of eye health personnel in the target provinces

3. Infrastructure Development – To improve the infrastructure needed to ensure effectiveness of the intervention and sustainability

4. Disease Control – To improve the quantity and quality of eye care services in the target provinces

5. Advocacy and Partnership Strengthening – To raise the profile of avoidable blindness issues and ensure sustained government support for eye health programs.

The project received initial approval from the Government of Lao PDR in July 2008. Project partners include the Department of Curative Medicine at the Central level and the respective Health Departments at the Provincial levels for the implementation of the project activities.

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For more information phone The Fred Hollows Foundation:

Joe Boughton-Dent
Phone: 02 8741 1928 or 0401 650 440
Email: jboughtondent@hollows.org