In May 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Assembly
(WHA) approved Resolution WHA 66/11, Universal eye health: a global
action plan 2014-2019 (hereafter referred to as the GAP). In preparation
for the year 2020, this updated GAP includes a global target to reduce
the prevalence of avoidable visual impairment by 25% by 2019 from the
2010 baseline. To measure progress made against the global target, the
WHO requires collection of 3 core indicators from member states on a
regular basis:
Prevalence of visual impairment and causes of visual impairment.
Cataract surgical services: Cataract surgical rate (CSR) and Cataract
surgical coverage (CSC)Number of eye health professionals by cadre (ophthalmologists,
optometrists and allied eye health personnel).
With less than 5 years until 2019, it is important to implement the
indicator data collection from an early stage in order to monitor the
GAP progress and identify best practices and preferred reporting
mechanisms that can be adopted across the globe. The Fred Hollows
Foundation supported Global Indicators Field Testing Project to Pilot
the WHO Global Indicators in Latin America was approved in October 2013,
with additional financial support from Orbis and IAPB for 2013-2015.
The project is managed by Strategic Solutions, Inc, in partnership with
the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and
Orbis, and with the collaboration of the Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO).
The core research team carrying out the project
includes: Marissa J. Carter (Strategic Solutions, Inc), Kristen Eckert
(Strategic Solutions, Inc), Van Lansingh (IAPB Latin America), Juan
Carlos Silva (PAHO), and Joan McLeod-Omawale (Orbis). The long-term goal
of this project is to formalize and implement a regional mechanism in
Latin America to collect and report eye care indicators in collaboration
with ministries of health (MoHs), national VISION 2020/prevention of
blindness committees, national professional societies, and regulatory
bodies in five countries: Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay.
Important objectives include evaluating the feasibility of accurate data
collection, the reliability of the indicators, and the adequacy of the
metrics used to define the indicators, as well as barriers to obtaining
these data. The project will conclude with development of a research
protocol to implement the global indicators in other regions of the
world along with a paper presenting lessons learnt.
On March 10-12, 2014, the First Latin America Global Indicators Workshop
was organized in Lima, Peru. Twenty-three participants representing
Strategic Solutions, IAPB, Orbis, PAHO, the International Council of
Ophthalmology, the University of São Paulo-Ribeirão Preto, and the MoHs,
national societies of ophthalmology, and the national committees of
Peru, Uruguay, Honduras, Mexico, and Chile participated to gain an
understanding and awareness of the WHO global indicators related to the
prevention of blindness.
During the workshop, delegations presented on the current situation of
data collection (including successes and shortfalls) in their countries,
developed country data collection strategies, and drafted a project
work plan for implementation over the next 6-9 months. The workshop
provided participants with a special understanding of the importance of
comprehensive data collection from the public and private sector.
Key lessons learned in Lima include:
By the end of 2014, it is estimated the countries will complete or be close to completing Phase 2 Implementation by carrying out the actions proposed in their respective global indicator work plans to strengthen data collection. Phase 3 Data Collection will then take place during 2015 and be followed-up with Phase 4 Final Analysis and Evaluation.
A final report will be published containing summary data, lessons
learned, and best practices that can be used in the same or similar
projects in other regions of the world.
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