No child should be left behind, especially when a simple eye exam and a pair of glasses are the solution

ONLY 1/ 0

children in Africa
have access to glasses

In Central and West Francophone and Lusophone Africa, there are no active school eye health programs

A School Eye Health Program

OPC has developed #FORESIGHT, a unique investment opportunity to deliver comprehensive eye care and change the lives of school children and their teachers in some of the world’s most neglected communities. OPC implements sustainable school eye health projects in 17 FORESIGHT countries with Ministries of Health & Education and local and international NGO partners.

How #FORESIGHT Works

For children around the world, primary education is the base of the pyramid of learning and is a fundamental human right. Healthy children are essential to sustainable development, ensuring the growth not only of the child, but also the economic and social growth of their communities and countries. OPC implements sustainable school eye health projects in 17 FORESIGHT countries with Ministries of Health & Education and local and international NGO partners by:

Training teachers to deliver health education and perform visual acuity tests
Administering additional screenings provided by eye care professionals for children at risk of ocular eye illness, as well as for the school staff
Referring children to ophthalmologists as needed, and provide necessary treatment and follow-ups
Ensuring best practices for eye health in schools nationwide, and promotes awareness of preventable eye illnesses

#FORESIGHT will be established in phases:

Organize a situational analysis and a national planning workshop

Run pilot projects in the country capitals to target 10% off the total number of children enrolled in schools, analyze results and plan extension

Build capacity to extend the program to reach 100% of children enrolled in schools

Why #FORESIGHT?

BECAUSE, no child should be left behind, especially when a simple eye exam and a pair of glasses are the solution

BECAUSE, health promoting school initiatives are part of broad, comprehensive, multidisciplinary and responsive approaches.

BECAUSE, promoting and improving eye health of school children and their educators will contribute to several of the sustainable development goals.

BECAUSE, healthy children are essential for sustainable development.

BECAUSE, education has the potential not only to change lives but also to fuel fundamental social transformation.

BECAUSE, primary school education is the base of the pyramid of education and is a fundamental human right.

BECAUSE, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most ratified human right convention in history.

#FORESIGHT Priorities

Fully inclusive child-centered eye care services.

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More children staying in school and continuing their education.

National policies to drive national school eye health programs.

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Fill a knowledge gap with the aim to better integrate children within national eye health plans

Include vision acuity test in the teaching curricula in FORESIGHT countries.

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Reduce cost & disseminate knowledge among parents, teachers, children and authorities.

Sustainability adapted to each specific environment based on a wide range of glasses at different costs, including the free of charge option for the children most in need.

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Strengthened national school health programs.

Better equipped comprehensive eye health facilities, able to carry out interventions from eye exams to treatments including surgeries and glasses.

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More children accessing eye health services.

OPC’s #FORESIGHT campaign raises awareness about the fight against children’s vision impairment and initiates national sustainable school eye health programs in 17 African countries.

#FORESIGHT Objectives

million people screened

million people examined by an eye doctor

people equipped with glasses