The Vision 2020 Australia Global Consortium was allocated AU$7.6 million to design and implement the East Asia Vision Program (EAVP) as a key component of the Australian Government’s East Asia Avoidable Blindness Initiative (ABI). The EAVP builds on the achievements of previous ABI Consortium programs. The Global Consortium brings together Australian NGOs supporting eye health development overseas to work together towards joint outcomes. The Completion report covers the three-year program of activities in Cambodia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam from 2013-2015.
Partnership and coordination was crucial to the success of the EAVP. Using a partnership approach enabled the EAVP to leverage existing expertise of Consortium members and their partners. This included sharing of plans and educational and training resources.
The EAVP worked with national partners in government departments, hospitals and universities, to strengthen capacity to train and build an effective eye health workforce in line with national plans and priorities. Strengthening capacity to train and support the eye health workforce has led to systems and institutional changes that are expected to have long lasting impacts on the growth and development of eye health sectors in Cambodia, Timor Leste and Vietnam.
The EAVP contributed to the development of national plans, strategies and guidelines, and improved the quality of pre-service and in-service training across almost all eye health cadres from ophthalmologist to community worker.
The Australian Government has not allocated further funding to the Avoidable Blindness Initiative or for further Global Consortium programs but is providing some support for Vision 2020 Australia to help facilitate sector coordination and collaboration in the region.
View the full report in PDF or word below. Appendices available on request, email info@vision2020australia.org.au