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Optometry Giving Sight announces successful 2013
In a 2013 project report, Optometry Giving Sight announced that it had allocated a record $1.8 million to 46 vision and eye care projects in 28 countries.
The organization also addressed the specific capacities aided by the funding: schools of optometry, training centers, vision centers, children's eye health, advocacy, emergency response and service delivery.
In an effort to grant access to eye care worldwide, Optometry Giving Sight emphasized support for education and treatment centers, the organization stated. As a result of this, 34 students in Africa graduated from optometry programs, 12 optometry schools received ongoing or new funding, and 2,440 people received skills training.
The organization also funded projects allowing 139,450 children to be screened and 44,268 people to access eye and vision care.
"Thank you to our donors, sponsors, national committee and board members, media partners and everyone who has helped us to raise funds for these vital, high impact projects that are helping to eliminate the backlog of refractive error blindness and impaired vision," Clive Miller, CEO of Optometry Giving Sight, wrote in the report. "There is much more we can do, and we very much look forward to your continued support in 2014."
VSP Global formed the World Sight Day Challenge coalition in the U.S., culminating in a large-scale outreach event in Atlanta. It saw local optometrists, coalition members and other community organizations join together to raise awareness and provide eye care and eye wear to 4,000 people in need.
Source: Optometry Giving Sight