Operation Eyesight Universal
Encyclopedia
Operation Eyesight Universal is a Canada
-based international development organization concerned with the elimination of avoidable blindness. Since its founding in 1963, it has facilitated eye care services and community development activities in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. At present, its efforts are concentrated on India
and the African countries of Ghana
, Kenya
, Rwanda
and Zambia
.
This organization is focused on preventing avoidable blindness where it is possible to do so, and treating blindness when people are unnecessarily blind. Working with governments, local communities and health care partners, it seeks to put in place comprehensive, high quality eye care programs and services that can be self-sustaining. Though private donations and public support, Operation Eyesight Universal seeks to assist people threatened by blindness and low vision
.
in India and other countries with high levels of poverty.
Inspired by a Canadian physician working in Sompeta
on India’s east coast, Dr. Ben Gullison, Operation Eyesight was formed in Calgary
, Alberta, Canada. Central to its formation and growth was Arthur Jenkyns, a Calgary businessman who succeeded in marshaling the efforts of others concerned about the eye care needs of people in the developing world.
Operation Eyesight Universal developed into a partnership between generous Canadians and Indian eye doctors, and later expanded its scope to include regions of Africa and south Asia, as well as donors from other countries. Throughout its history, this organization has emphasized capacity building and sustainability by supplying local medical professionals with the training, equipment and facilities required to help their own people.
Operation Eyesight Universal is committed to helping its indigenous medical partners build the comprehensive, high quality infrastructure and programs necessary to meet the present and future eye care needs of their own people. These partners are encouraged to analyze their needs and develop plans of action. Financial donors make it possible to provide the essential resources to develop or improve services.
As a development organization, Operation Eyesight Universal focuses on local leadership and practical solutions that lead to deep, long-term improvements to entire communities and regions in the developing world. Working in partnership with local medical professionals and government officials, as well as with elements of the international eye care community, Operation Eyesight proceeds with its sights set on the ultimate elimination of avoidable blindness. Its mission is therefore expressed as “To eliminate avoidable blindness” and its vision as “For all the world to see.” The organization forms its decisions and activities around the core values of accessibility, quality, collaboration, sustainability and accountability.
.
Although Operation Eyesight is headquartered in Canada and draws most of its support from Canadians, the organization also receives significant support from individuals and organizations in other countries. It is registered as a charitable organization in Australia, Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-based international development organization concerned with the elimination of avoidable blindness. Since its founding in 1963, it has facilitated eye care services and community development activities in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. At present, its efforts are concentrated on India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the African countries of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
.
This organization is focused on preventing avoidable blindness where it is possible to do so, and treating blindness when people are unnecessarily blind. Working with governments, local communities and health care partners, it seeks to put in place comprehensive, high quality eye care programs and services that can be self-sustaining. Though private donations and public support, Operation Eyesight Universal seeks to assist people threatened by blindness and low vision
Low vision
Low vision is a subspecialty within the professions of optometry and ophthalmology dealing with individuals who have reduced vision even when using the best possible spectacle or contact lens correction available. It can be a result of either congenital disease Low vision is a subspecialty within...
.
History
Operation Eyesight Universal was established in 1963 to raise funds to reduce the number of people who were avoidably blind from cataractCataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
in India and other countries with high levels of poverty.
Inspired by a Canadian physician working in Sompeta
Sompeta
Sompeta ' is a census town and Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Sompeta is located at . It has an average elevation of 8 metres ....
on India’s east coast, Dr. Ben Gullison, Operation Eyesight was formed in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta, Canada. Central to its formation and growth was Arthur Jenkyns, a Calgary businessman who succeeded in marshaling the efforts of others concerned about the eye care needs of people in the developing world.
Operation Eyesight Universal developed into a partnership between generous Canadians and Indian eye doctors, and later expanded its scope to include regions of Africa and south Asia, as well as donors from other countries. Throughout its history, this organization has emphasized capacity building and sustainability by supplying local medical professionals with the training, equipment and facilities required to help their own people.
Purpose and Principles
Operation Eyesight Universal exists in response to the threat represented by global blindness in that over 161 million people in the world are visually impaired due to eye diseases, of whom 37 million are blind and 124 million have low vision – as much as 75% of blindness is preventable or curable. Additionally, an estimated 153 million people are visually impaired due to uncorrected refractive errors. Operation Eyesight Universal also responds to the fact that the largest burden of visual impairment, more than 90%, is borne by the least developed regions.Operation Eyesight Universal is committed to helping its indigenous medical partners build the comprehensive, high quality infrastructure and programs necessary to meet the present and future eye care needs of their own people. These partners are encouraged to analyze their needs and develop plans of action. Financial donors make it possible to provide the essential resources to develop or improve services.
As a development organization, Operation Eyesight Universal focuses on local leadership and practical solutions that lead to deep, long-term improvements to entire communities and regions in the developing world. Working in partnership with local medical professionals and government officials, as well as with elements of the international eye care community, Operation Eyesight proceeds with its sights set on the ultimate elimination of avoidable blindness. Its mission is therefore expressed as “To eliminate avoidable blindness” and its vision as “For all the world to see.” The organization forms its decisions and activities around the core values of accessibility, quality, collaboration, sustainability and accountability.
International programs and projects
Operation Eyesight Universal is directly active in India and the African nations of Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia, investing in treatment, prevention and community development activities to address specific problems as well as the root causes of blindness. Highlights of this investment strategy include:- primary eye care in Africa and India
- SAFE strategyInternational Trachoma InitiativeThe International Trachoma Initiative is a non-profit organization committed to the elimination of blinding trachoma, the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness. It was founded in 1998 in response to the World Health Organization’s call to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020...
in Kenya and Zambia to combat trachoma, featuring surgery, antibiotics, health education and sanitation enhancements such as water wells and latrines - comprehensive community development in slum and tribal communities in India
- investment with each hospital partner to provide high-quality facilities, equipment and training to improve management capabilities and systems to ultimately achieve comprehensive, quality, sustainable eye care
- a cost effective, integrated model of eye care services
Fundraising
Funds for international programs are gathered from a number of sources which include individual donations, philanthropic foundations, private businesses and the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development AgencyCanadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
.
Although Operation Eyesight is headquartered in Canada and draws most of its support from Canadians, the organization also receives significant support from individuals and organizations in other countries. It is registered as a charitable organization in Australia, Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Partner Organizations
- Eyesight International
- International Agency for the Prevention of BlindnessInternational Agency for the Prevention of BlindnessThe International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is a coordinating, umbrella organization to lead an international effort in mobilizing resources for blindness prevention activities. It was set up on January 1, 1975, by the late Sir John Wilson, the Founder President...
- Canadian International Development AgencyCanadian International Development AgencyThe Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
- L. V. Prasad Eye InstituteL. V. Prasad Eye InstituteL V Prasad Eye Institute is a non-profit eye clinic, hospital, research facility and an eye bank in Hyderabad, India. It was established in 1986. It has tertiary care centers in Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam.- History :...
- Optometry Giving Sight
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