The Road to the SDGs

PURPOSE X IsDB launched the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness (AFAB) in 2008, reflecting a long-term vision to improve lives and put an end to diseases causing vision loss. IsDB saw the opportunity to work with partner organisations on multiple strategies to combat preventable eye diseases by developing intervention programmes. These include the provision of examinations to detect and correct ocular refraction errors. As the Alliance enters a new phase, the aim is to maintain the progress achieved so far and to step up capacity building activities for the future. METHOD X Through AFAB, IsDB is committed to continuing to work with its partners to foster global cooperation that brings tangible benefits to the poorest people in the world. By improving eye health and preventing avoidable loss of sight, the Alliance can make a major impact in the lives of many people. X During 2008–2015, AFAB focused on treating cataracts, which are a major cause of blindness. IsDB raised US$ 10 million for this work in eight African Countries — Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Guinea, Mali and Niger. X It provided eye care to 244,000 people, restoring eyesight to more than 49,000 blind people from different age groups, and provided training to 177 local eye-care personnel. X The second generation of AFAB (2019–2023) focuses on supporting the development of comprehensive, accessible and sustainable eye care services, with a broadening of the Alliance’s work to strengthen the eye health systems in 13 African Countries. X Treatments are made available for a wide range of preventable and curable conditions which cause blindness. X Approximately one million children will be screened at schools and those who need glasses will be provided with a pair. X Scholarships will allow new eye health personnel to be trained and local training institutions to be strengthened in countries with few ophthalmologists. X The creation of treatment centres for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy will allow people to access help for these specific diseases. X The investment in the programme will bring free of charge eye-care to millions of people in Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, Restoring sight for a clear path out of poverty T he Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness is a global partnership of 32 partners that seeks to address the considerable problems caused by lack of access to eye-care services in many MCs The Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness aims to carry out 1.5 million cataract operations and 10 million consultations in addition to the distribution of eyeglasses and capacity building activities [ 114 ] SDGs