Engelhardt Eyewear are proud to announce the formation of their strategic partnership with World Vision, and the launch of the ENGELHARDT WESTERN ABAYA EYECARE PROJECT IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

In Ethiopia, blindness is a major health problem with cataract, trachoma, glaucoma and childhood blindness some of the major causes. Trachoma and cataract alone constitute 70% of all cases of blindness.

Preventative healthcare has become a major priority of Ethiopia's government. However, only 50.71% of the population are currently covered by these services. Southern Ethiopia has been identified as a region specifically in need of Eyecare services.

World Vision Ethiopia are one of the only non-governmental organisations in Ethiopia involved in trachoma intervention activities.

World Vision and Engelhardt Eyewear have developed a specific program for the Western Abaya region of Ethiopia to assist in the prevention and treatment of trachoma. Abaya is a poor farming district 467kms southwest of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

ENGELHARDT'S Commitment is to donate a minimum of $100,000 to this specific project.

To achieve this initiative Engelhardt will launch the joint program with the roll out of a new and exciting range of eyewear on the 1st of February 2005.

Engelhardt Eyewear will donate $5 from the sale of every pair of optical frames from the Engelhardt range to the Western Abaya Eyecare Program.

This donation will be sent to the Project on a quarterly basis, and over the two year period will directly benefit 10,800 men, women and children who will receive Eyecare treatment.

The project will indirectly affect a further 50,000 people in the community who will benefit from improved water and sanitation facilities and community education.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Increase local capacity to provide primary eye care services

This will be achieved through:

  • Training of community health workers to identify cases of TT
  • Training of TT surgeons
  • Undertaking community education sessions on good eye health

Objective 2

Reduce the prevalence of active trachoma

This will be achieved through:

  • Improved screening and increased treatment of people who have active trachoma
  • Train local school teachers in identification of active trachoma
  • Train key community members on trachoma prevention and active case identification
  • Conduct education session in schools

Objective 3

Reduce trachoma transmission within the communities

This will be achieved through:

  • Improving household access to safe water supplies.
  • Construction of new safe water sources
  • Train community workers on water management and establish at least one water management committee
  • Train local school children to be sanitation monitors
  • Produce educational materials and educational sessions for the local community on the causes of trachoma

Objective 4

Reduce the occurrence of blindness as a result of trachoma

This will be achieved through:

  • Training of health workers and school teachers in early detection
  • Equipping local health facilities with appropriate treatments
  • Community eduction of causes of trachoma