Reverse Linkage

55 DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION Despite the extent of the contribution made by NAB since the start of its campaign in 1980 there has been a lack of ophthalmologists and a shortage of medical equipment. Individual hospitals are equipped to manage no more than ten surgeries each week, therefore a great deal still remains to be done. For that reason, in 2003 NAB formed an alliance with donors including IsDB, ministries of health for IsDB member countries, and NGOs involved in eye care. Campaign objectives The main objectives of the NAB campaigns are to: • Reduce the prevalence of disease by offering high-quality and free medical eye care • Improve access to eye care by identifying affected popula- tions, reaching the most vulnerable people, and covering remote areas • Reinforce the exchange of technology and enhance capacity building by supplying medical and ophthalmic equipment taking into account local needs and context, organizing capacity reinforcement projects for local personnel and facilitating workshops on the use of equipment. Outcomes This initiative has helped to restore the sight thousands of people. It has also reinforced the capacity of, and training for, local professionals such as ophthalmologists and techni- cians. It has further provided high quality and free medical eye care such as ophthalmic consultations, vision therapy and the provision of ophthalmic equipment. Issues and challenges The NAB campaigns are necessary to reduce avoidable blindness. However, due to the lack of human resources, efforts have not been sufficient tomeet the huge demand. The reinforcement of the capacity building of local professionals is crucial for the sustainability of the project. Furthermore, additional backing such as the supply of human resources and medical equipment must be secured for the further success of this project, and partnerships between the public and private sectors should be strengthened more than ever. The achievements of the campaigns would not have been possible without the human support from the NAB medical team in addition to the generous contribution of donors. ATCT’s examples of SSC project success Health • A two-year project to combat maternal and infant mortality in the Province of Kolo, Niger, with the finan- cial support of the French Development Agency. This project included the training of Nigerian physicians by Tunisian experts and the set up of mobile medical units. • Reproductive health project implemented by Tunisian experts in Niger and funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). • Training courses on resistance to HIV, and eye diseases, funded by IsDB. • A three-year course on infectious diseases, organized in Tunisia for 47 post-doctoral and doctoral level research- ers and scientists from various African countries, with the support of JICA. Education • Four education counsellors implemented a two-year project to improve the quality of teaching Arabic and French in Niger, with the financial support of IsDB. • Training courses in communication between languages and in the controversy of communication and interna- tional policies in basic education, assessment of teaching achievements and the preparation of textbooks. • Development of curriculum materials and textbooks in Djibouti by Tunisian experts, funded by IsDB and the French Development Agency. • Training courses for executives from Arab and African French-speaking countries, run within a programme supported by the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), aiming to promote the publication and distribution sectors and, in particular, textbooks. This enabled some trainees to set up their own business, crucial to job creation in developing countries. Agriculture, water and environment • Training courses in collaboration with Tunisian insti- tutions such as the Arid Zones Institute (IRA), the Agricultural Research Institute of Tunis (INRAT), Tunis International Center for Environmental Technologies (CITET) and the National Institute of Research in Rural Engineering, Water and Forests (INRGREF), run for the benefit of various African countries in the fields of Image: ATCT Inaugural meeting of the Chad Project