"Reach Many More People With Low Vision!"
Interview with Dr. Jill Keeffe, CBM advisor on Low Vision
What is CBM doing for people with low vision and what should be done in the future?
Most of the world’s people with low vision and needing services are in developing countries. Without special low vision services and resources, people with low vision find it difficult to participate in the social and economic life of their families and communities. CBM has supported the development of a low vision resource centre in Hong Kong that now provides affordable magnifiers to children and adults in CBM programmes in developing countries.
CBM is also providing training to clinic staff and teachers who work with children and adults with low vision. Many countries do not have training centres available so the CBM advisors in Asia and Africa provide much needed training.
The great need in the future is to reach many more people with low vision. An estimated 10% of people who need services can access services. The opportunity of World Sight Day is important to explain low vision and advocate for the necessary services for children and adults.
CBM is also providing training to clinic staff and teachers who work with children and adults with low vision. Many countries do not have training centres available so the CBM advisors in Asia and Africa provide much needed training.
The great need in the future is to reach many more people with low vision. An estimated 10% of people who need services can access services. The opportunity of World Sight Day is important to explain low vision and advocate for the necessary services for children and adults.
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- Since 2001, Dr. Jill Keeffe is Associate Professor and Head of the Population Health Division, Department of Ophthalmology, at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is co-chair of the WHO Low Vision Technical Working Group. © CBM
What are CBM's aims and priorities in the field of low vision and refractive errors?
The priority is the provision of comprehensive low vision care that is available for adults and children who need them. Low vision care should be part of eye care services, education and rehabilitation programmes.
Priorities are to:
Priorities are to:
- focus on children with low vision but also include low vision care for adults through a multi-disciplinary approach.
- identify and assess people with low vision and to design individual programmes for them.
- ensure early intervention for children with low vision
- ensure that all children in schools for the blind have eye exams and equipment and materials necessary to assist them in their education, and develop partnerships within the VISION 2020 and Education for All Initiatives.
Low vision and V2020: Why is low vision a world sight day topic and a Vision 2020 priority?
About 65 million people throughout the world are in need of low vision services to help them participate in their community life – be it at home, school or work. Low vision services provide training to help people better use their vision, prescribe low vision devices such as magnifiers and provide support at schools for vocational training.
How does CBM hope to reach more people with low vision in developing countries?
CBM has supported staff involved as advisors or who provide low vision services to take part in regional training courses in the Asia-Pacific and African regions. Staff working in CBM-supported programmes from Nigeria, South Africa, Madagascar, Ethiopia, India, Nepal and Mongolia attends the four week residential courses. These people are now not only providing services in their own countries but are conducting training and establishing new low vision services.
CBM supported many educators to attend the international council for educators of people with visual impairment (ICEVI) conference in Malaysia in July 2006. At the ICEVI Conference, Education For All – For Children With Visual Impairment (2015) was launched. Most children with visual impairment have low vision. Opportunities such as World Sight Day are important to draw attention to the need for education of children with impaired vision. Children with low vision need specialist support at school and resources such as magnifiers to help them read their class materials.
CBM supported many educators to attend the international council for educators of people with visual impairment (ICEVI) conference in Malaysia in July 2006. At the ICEVI Conference, Education For All – For Children With Visual Impairment (2015) was launched. Most children with visual impairment have low vision. Opportunities such as World Sight Day are important to draw attention to the need for education of children with impaired vision. Children with low vision need specialist support at school and resources such as magnifiers to help them read their class materials.
