IAPB 9 TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2012 17- 20 SEPTEMBER HYDRABAD INDIA Partnership beyond eye care

1. IAPB 9TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2012 17- 20 SEPTEMBER HYDRABAD INDIA Partnership beyond eye care Coordination of Vision 2020 in West-Africa, an example of partnership West African Health Organization (WAHO) Dr Doulaye SACKO Vision 2020 Coordinator in W AHO Dr Irmela ERDMANN West Africa Regional medical advisor CBM 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

2. ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES ( ECOWAS) 15 WEST-AFRICAN STATES THREE LINGUISTIC BLOCKS 8F+ 5A+2L 300 MILLIONS Habitants 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

3. Organisation Ouest Africaine de la Santé (OOAS) Organizaçao Oest Africana de la Saude (OOAS) West African Health Organisation ( WAHO) 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

4. The West-African Health Organisation (WAHO) is ECOWAS specialized agency for health . Created in 1987 but became operational only in 2000. WAHO’s Mission:   « the attainment of the highest possible standard and protection of health of the peoples in the region through the harmonisation of policies of member states , pooling of resources , cooperation with one another and others for collective and strategic combat against the health problems in the region ». Priority: Prevention of Blindness and visual impairment were a priority. Guiding principles: Vision 2020, the Right to Sight initiative Focus: Coordination of actions and actors. 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

5. Coordination of vision 2020 in West-Africa To achieve the Vision 2020 objectives, WAHO created a partnership of all stakeholders covering all components of eye health. The West-African Advocacy Forum of Vision 2020 at WAHO : a platform for information exchange, experience for better coordination and implementation of Vision 2020 the Right to Sight in the region. Created in 2002 in Abidjan Approved by theGeneral Assembly of Ministers of ECOWAS in Accra, in 2002. Forum held bi-annually, brings together all stakeholders in eye health. 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

6. Vision 2020 Forum (Abuja 2006) 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

7. Vision 2020 Forum ( Conakry 2012) 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

8. Composition of the Forum • A. Action Group • B. NGO-Coordination Group • Country Coordination Group • Vision 2020 coordinator post • A. Action Group - members: • 3 representatives of MoH • (Coordinators of Eye Health Programmes – one per linguistic block), • - Co Chairs of IAPB • 2 Representatives of training and eye health research institutions. • - 2 representatives of the NGO-Coordination Group 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

9. Issues of Interest (2003 – 2012) • 2003 - Childhood Blindness control • 2004 - Trachoma control • 2006 - Scale up of Cataract surgical rate( CSR) in WA • 2008 -Human Resource Development in eye health • 2010 - Promotion of eye health in ECOWAS countries • (integration of PEC into PHC services) • 2012 -Improving eye health indicators management through the National Health Information Management System in the region 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

10. Human Resources Development Strengthening of programmes and eye health services managers’ skills in management, ICT, GIS and data management . Training of trainers in sutureless cataract surgery 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

11. Development of Infrastructures and Equipments The Sheick Zayed Regional Eye Center Banjul The Gambia DESSO Conakry Guinea Sightsavers and patners WAHO Sightsavers and CBM 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

12. Development of Infrastructures and Equipments Optometry Training Centre in IOTA Bamako Mali 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

13. Advocacy and Resource Mobilisation Resolutions were voted and adopted by the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers Previous resolutions were focused on how to accelerate the implementation of vision 2020 and improve national financial support to eye health. Latest resolution outcome led to change of programme name from National Blindness Control Programme to National Eye Health Programme with a holistic approach to eye health 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

14. Advocacy and Resource Mobilisation (ctd) • Mobilization of additional resources that a single country could not mobilize: For example • £1,315,338.00 from Sightsavers and partners for the Sheick Zayed Regional Eye Center • The DESSO from WAHO CBM Sightsavers …etc • The optometry training centre in Francophone West Africa from WAHO, IOTA, ICO-France Essilor International, Brien Holden Vision Institute ..etc Visite at the Essilor HQ in Paris 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

15. Challenges • In application of the WHA-Resolution 56-26 all stakesholders came together to strenghten ECOWAS Member States with the newly adopted 5-year Vision 2020 plan in 2003. • Inadequate financial resources. • Partial programmes implementation . • Several programmes’ plans overtaken by events • Limited resources for programme evaluation and review . 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

16. Challenges (ctd) Given donor fatigue by technical and financial partners, finding new resources to prosecute eye health programmes remains a major challenge Despite multiple advocacy efforts at the highest level, the effective implementation of resolutions and recommendations continue to be a bottleneck. Way forward Given the many challenges to tackle, a revision of the time-tested coordination system which has withstood changing contexts could be one answer. 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012

17. Merci de votre très aimable attention Thank you for your kind attention Obrigado 9th GA of IAPB 19/09/2012