Promoting inclusive comprehensive eye health services by adopting Peek Vision technology solutions in Sindh province
CBM - Christian Blind Mission
(
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#SDGAction53605
Description
The overall objective of the initiative is to contribute to the improvement of quality of life for 600,000 adults and children over 5 years at risk of with visual impairment in Matiari district, Sindh province by increasing the provision of inclusive quality eye health services through the introduction of Peek Vision technologies and other eye health resources in the eye health system.A particular focus is made to bring these resources, from enhanced staffing to medical equipment, to the primary and secondary care levels. In turn, this brings eye health services closer to communities where large proportions of the population’s eye health needs remain unmet.
CBM has a longstanding partnership with Peek Vision. Peek Vision is a social impact organisation that provides evidence-based solutions for sustainable eye health, particularly those operating in low- and middle-income settings. Peek Vision’s technological solutions shift certain tasks like patient identification, screening and evidence gathering to a wider workforce using technology (such as mobile applications) to allow for real-time continuous improvement. Expected benefits of the adoption of Peek Vision technologies in existing primary and secondary eye health services include clinical accuracy; ease of adoption; speed of service delivery; service accountability from transparent data reporting and evaluation; data accuracy and relevance; data collection efficiency; statistical value for population health analysis; and cost efficiency.
This initiative enables CBM to leverage our Peek Vision partnership with our country office in Pakistan, and local government partner SIOVS. SIOVS is one of the major eye health institutes in Pakistan and leads the implementation of the national government’s National Integrated People Centered Eye Care (IPEC) Plan in Sindh province. Through the partnership between CBM, Peek Vision and SIOVS, the initiative intends to create frameworks for sustainable and country-wide delivery due to the national scalability of Peek Vision’s vision screening programmes.
The initiative contributes to the advancement of good eye health leadership/governance, the development of the eye health workforce at community, primary and secondary health facilities, and an improvement in access to essential ophthalmic consumables and equipment. In addition, the initiative uses the opportunity of community engagement to reduce stigma towards, and access barriers for, people with disabilities in eye health services, using evidence-based interventions. These interventions are delivered by organizations of persons with disabilities (OPD). Awareness raising and door-to-door eye screenings in communities is also conducted through Lady Health Workers (LHW) and Lady Health Supervisors (LHS) during their visits to households.
The ultimate goal for the initiative through Peek Vision’s solutions is governmental adoption and its integration in national eye health initiatives. Capacity building and technology transfer are therefore integral factors in ensuring local ownership and adoption.
‘Peek Capture’, the software used by the Lady Health Workers (LHW) and eye health personnel for eye screenings, is available free-to-use via major mobile ‘app’ stores, with all staff trained in how to use the software for long-term adoption. Where not available, mobile phones have been procured and transferred to LHW under the guidance and management of the Ministry of Health. Data collected through Peek Capture remains owned by the government partner SIOVS for long-term analysis, with monthly and quarterly data analysis explored with SIOVS to strengthen data use.
Alongside this, wider capacity building is provided to eye health personnel and community health workers, such as LHW and LHS, to strengthen eye health knowledge to required standards. Other technologies, such as the ophthalmic equipment procured through the initiative, are immediately transferred and owned by health facilities across all levels of the health system.
Whilst the initiative is funded and technically supported by CBM, implementation and governance remains the responsibility of the government partner SIOVS for long-term sustainability. Monthly and quarterly reviews between CBM, Peek Vision and SIOVS, driven by data captured through Peek Vision technologies, ensure active governance of the initiative to ensure its success.
Advocacy is also integral to long-term coordination and growth of the initiative. Provincial-level government advocacy is led by SIOVS, in partnership with CBM and Peek Vision, and is informed by data and evidence collected/analyzed from the novel technologies used in the initiative. Forums such as the National Eye Health Committee are also used for national-level influencing. As a result of these efforts so far, the national Ministry of Interior has issued what is called a ‘No Objection’ Letter, meaning that the government has no objection to the implementation of CBM/Peek Vision powered projects alongside public eye health institutions anywhere in Pakistan; opening the door for national implementation. Sindh’s provincial government has also committed to: -
1. A contributory allocation of state funds ($314,790) for the expansion of the initiative to 3 more districts in Sindh province (Larkana, Khairpur and Shaheed Benazirabad), which is now taking place.
2. The creation of essential posts at Rural Health Centres (RHCs), with 15 optometrists to be deployed at 13 RHCs, 3 social organisers and 3 drivers. In addition to this, ophthalmic equipment is to be installed at 13 RHCs in the 3 districts.
3. Commitment to scale-up the approach to other districts in the province in a phased manner.
An external evaluation will be conducted in the last quarter of the initiative lifecycle. The main objective verifiable indicators are:
1. The reduction of the prevalence of avoidable blindness
2. The increase in the capacity of (eye) health staff following trainings
3. The increase in access of the rural population to primary and secondary level eye health services
4. The increase in the quality of eye health services
5. The increase in knowledge about good practices in the context of eye health amongst communities (gender, eye health, hygiene, nutrition)
6. The increase of the accountability of registered eye health data
7. The efficiency of the (eye) health referral system
8. The increase in knowledge on the rights and needs of persons with disabilities
Alongside this, thanks to the live data available through Peek Vision technology use, monthly and quarterly reports and analysis takes place across the government and non-government initiative partners to monitor performance and implement adjustments/course corrections in real-time.
Peek Vision, Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences (SIOVS)
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
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Feedback
Action Network
Type of initiative
Share
Timeline
Entity
SDGs
Geographical coverage
Other beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries include children over 5 years and adults at risk of visual impairment, as detailed below: -
• Children 5-18 Years - 100,000
• Adults 18+ - 500,000
Indirect beneficiaries include: -
• Eye Health Personnel - 100
• Lady Health Workers (LHW) - 400
• Lady Health Supervisors (LHS) - 40
More information
Countries
Contact Information
Joyce Koech, Head of Inclusive Eye Health