CBM Human Resource for Eye Health Scholarship Programme
CBM, Christian Blind Mission
(
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#SDGAction53633
Description
The Scholarship Programme is aimed at supporting expansion of Human resources for Eye Health in Africa through awarding scholarships to doctors, to facilitate study of Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology and training of other mid level cadres such as ophthalmic clinical officers and nurses. An ophthalmologist is a medical or osteopathic doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats all eye conditions, performs eye surgery and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems.
The overall objective of the program is to increase access to equitable and quality eye care services. The purpose is to Strengthen national health systems and improve access to eye health services through training of Ophthalmologists.
Presently, we have an estimated 37 million people living with blindness in the world. Nine in 10 of the people living with blindness are found in developing countries. At least 80% of blindness is avoidable and/ or curable. However due to lack of affordable and easy access to quality eye care as well as inadequate numbers of eye care personnel across the Africa sub-Saharan region, proper eye care services remain elusive. Africa is considered the region in the world with the greatest need for human resource development for eye care. Africa is in dire need of improved human resource development for eye care services. In this context, CBM AFE has been offering scholarships to facilitate training of residency Ophthalmologists across East Africa
The scholarship programme awards scholarships to doctors to study MMED in ophthalmology, contributing to human resources for eye health development. The CBM Scholarship Programme Coordinator is responsible for the planning and execution of the programme within CBM and is a direct link for management of the Training Institutions in which training of the residency Ophthalmologists take place. The coordinator works closely with all the stakeholders that directly or indirectly affect the programme operations, including the Ministries of Health, Training Institutions, the Ophthalmologists and the institutions of service.
Training programmes are undertaken at various Government accredited Universities with curricula and training periods defined by the institutions. Qualifying ophthalmologists are sent to work in underserved remote areas in Africa. They are able to address the unique needs of the populations they serve as they are specialized in different sub-specialties. Since CBM has been running this programme for over 20 years now, the alumni are engaged in skills transfer and technology development as lecturers in universities (eye departments) and capacity building as they are working in community eye programmes. For example , one of the scholarship alumni was instrumental in the development of PEEK technology - a software that enables eye health providers to identify gaps and inequalities in their services through provision of population-level eye health survey and tools to understand prevalence rates and aid programme design ; screening and data capture by anyone , anywhere using a clinically validated vision screening app and a powerful software to monitor journeys to care to produce actionable insights .
Further, some of the alumni of the scholarship programme serve as heads of departments in various hospitals, hence they are involved in decision making and championing for new technology that makes their work effective. In addition, they mentor younger ophthalmologists in the course of their work, ensuring that they sharpen their skills to become highly qualified ophthalmologists advancing eye health in Africa.
CBM coordinates the programme with the high involvement of key stakeholders in eye health. The training opportunities are availed each year for the new academic year, depending on funding available at CBM. The opportunities are shared with the stakeholders clearly guiding on strategic doctors targeted who are doctors working in rural and underserved communities. The interested doctors make applications after which the steering committee that comprises of representatives from government (MOH, eye care coordinators), training universities (head of eye departments), COECSA (regional ophthalmologists' professional body for East, Central and Southern Africa), a CBM partner, an alumni of the programme and CBM key staff carries out the awards in a fair manner that meets the programme objectives.
CBM evaluates its programmes regularly to document results against planned objectives and outcomes. Key stakeholders are interviewed by the independent consultant(s) who will then share their findings with CBM and its stakeholders. The evaluation results inform programme planning and delivery going forward.
1. Ministry of Health both at the National and local government; Provides and Validates data or Information on the Needs of Human Resources for Eye Health, Provides Legal Framework for training of Human Resources for Eye Health, Involved in the development of guidelines for selection of applicants for scholarship award.
2. Training Institutions: Offers Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology for doctors under the scholarship programme. Besides class-based teaching, resident ophthalmologists will receive practical training through clinical teaching and outreaches to hospitals across the country.
3. College of Ophthalmology in the Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA); contributes to the Human Resources for Health through quality training in ophthalmology, sets standards for professional development and promotes research which advances ophthalmology in the region.
4. Other like-minded non-profit organizations: Who provide a platform for sharing lessons learnt and good practices to increase learning to improve on all aspects of the programme.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 3
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
3.1
3.1.1
Maternal mortality ratio
3.1.2
Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel
3.2
3.2.1
Under-five mortality rate
3.2.2
Neonatal mortality rate
3.3
By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases
3.3.1
Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations
3.3.2
Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population
3.3.3
Malaria incidence per 1,000 population
3.3.4
Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 population
3.3.5
Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases
3.4
3.4.1
Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease
3.4.2
Suicide mortality rate
3.5
Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
3.5.1
Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders
3.5.2
Alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol
3.6
3.6.1
Death rate due to road traffic injuries
3.7
By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
3.7.1
Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods
3.7.2
Adolescent birth rate (aged 10-14 years; aged 15-19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group
3.8
Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all
3.8.1
Coverage of essential health services
3.8.2
Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income
3.9
3.9.1
Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution
3.9.2
Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)
3.9.3
Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning
3.a
3.a.1
Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older
3.b
Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all
3.b.1
Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme
3.b.2
3.b.3
Proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available and affordable on a sustainable basis
3.c
3.c.1
Health worker density and distribution
3.d
Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks
3.d.1
International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness
3.d.2
Percentage of bloodstream infections due to selected antimicrobial-resistant organisms
Goal 4
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
4.1
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes
4.1.1
Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex
4.1.2
Completion rate (primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education)
4.2
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education
4.2.1
Proportion of children aged 24–59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being, by sex
4.2.2
Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex
4.3
By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.3.1
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex
4.4
By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.4.1
Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill
4.5
4.5.1
Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict-affected, as data become available) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregated
4.6
By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy
4.6.1
Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sex
4.7
By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
4.7.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education and (d) student assessment
4.a
Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all
4.a.1
Proportion of schools offering basic services, by type of service
4.b
4.b.1
Volume of official development assistance flows for scholarships by sector and type of study
4.c
By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States
4.c.1
Proportion of teachers with the minimum required qualifications, by education level
Goal 5
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
5.1
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
5.1.1
Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non‑discrimination on the basis of sex
5.2
5.2.1
Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age
5.2.2
Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by age and place of occurrence
5.3
5.3.1
Proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 15 and before age 18
5.3.2
Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting, by age
5.4
Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate
5.4.1
Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age and location
5.5
Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
5.5.1
Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments
5.5.2
Proportion of women in managerial positions
5.6
Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences
5.6.1
Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care
5.6.2
Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee full and equal access to women and men aged 15 years and older to sexual and reproductive health care, information and education
5.a
Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
5.a.1
(a) Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land, by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure
5.a.2
Proportion of countries where the legal framework (including customary law) guarantees women’s equal rights to land ownership and/or control
5.b
5.b.1
Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex
5.c
Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels
5.c.1
Proportion of countries with systems to track and make public allocations for gender equality and women’s empowerment
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Feedback
Action Network
Type of initiative
Share
Timeline
Entity
Geographical coverage
Other beneficiaries
1. Doctors that serve in communities (rural and far from major cities) that are underserved with eye health (So far 119 scholarship have been issued with 85 opthamologists having finalized the training and graduated).
2. Underserved communities of Africa
3. MOH through strengthened health systems. HR is a key pillar in the strengthening of health systems, and eye health in this particular case.
More information
Countries
Contact Information
Joyce Koech, Head of Inclusive Eye Health