Cataract case detection and referral for surgeries.
To identify the blind children from their community and to provide high quality surgery and postoperative treatment to the cataract child patients referred by CSF to Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Bangladesh Eye Hospital.
To detect about 430 blind children and refer approx. 135 for cataract surgeries including follow-up treatment in remote Chapai Nawabgonj district.
To develop a database of identified and examined blind children at the CSF.
To use this blind and cured children database for their future treatment, follow-up and case study.
International Centre for Eye Health, London and Muslim Aid UK
3 years, July 2006 to June 2009
Comprehensive Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) Programme to ensure early detection, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, education and self help activities to control blindness and to establish the rights of blind children
240 blind children and their families will receive rehabilitation support.
600 blind children traced from rural communities by the trained key informants.
1,200 visually impaired children will be helped through eye examination and treatment. 200 blind children will receive sight restoring surgery 4,800 children with common eye diseases will be treated with eye drops, spectacles and other necessary treatments.
60 schoolteachers trained in inclusive education for blind children. 240 blind children will be educated in the mainstream schools through inclusive education. Model school practice in 10 schools will be developed, supported and sustained Localized advocacy among Parents, community and decision makers for education, rehabilitation, and rights of visually impaired children. 200 self-help group members trained through training programmes. 60 Trainers will be trained on Primary Eye care through Training of the Trainers programme. 1,800 volunteers trained in Primary Eye Care for Children’s Eye. 800 key informants trained in finding blind children from rural communities. 4,000 health education materials will be distributed. 4 district partnership workshops organized for childhood blindness control.
ICEH, Christoffel- Blinden Mission (CBM), Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI), Muslim Aid, UK
January 06- January 2007
Health Communication materials development and dissemination, training and advocacy
To develop a health communication strategy, and to design, pilot, produce and disseminate health education materials to reduce cataract blindness in children in Bangladesh.
Development, piloting and dissemination of health communication materials (production of video/TV documentary, radio spots, posters, newspaper articles and training materials for primary health workers, community members and medical students) related to cataract blindness in children.
Training of primary health care trainers (TOT), community members and medical students on how to identify a blind child from the local community and where to refer them for treatment.
Partnership workshop of local service providers (both NGO and government) to facilitate sustained use of childhood cataract health communication materials in their outreach programmes.
Sight Savers International (Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind UK)
November 2005- June 2007
Detection of blind children and referral of cataract blind for sight restoring surgeries (in Dhaka Division)
To Identify and examine 80% of approximately 8,000 blind children in selected 103 upazilas of Dhaka division
Approximately one third (2,400) of the examined children will be referred to the partner eye hospital for free cataract surgery
Train 4000 Key Informants (KI) in selected 103 upazilas of Dhaka division.
Organise 1030 health communication activities in selected 103 upazilas in Dhaka division.
Help to ensure that 80% of the children who fail to attend follow up will be motivated for follow up.
International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Blindness and vision related disability in Bangladesh
Childhood blindness project is a research initiative of the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to implement extensive, large scale epidemiological, qualitative and clinical research on blindness and vision related disability in Bangladesh. The primary aim of the project was to collect, analyse and disseminate valid data to initiate and assist a rationale planning process to control childhood blindness in Bangladesh. Following major research studies were undertaken by CBPB:
The Bangladesh National Study on Childhood Blindness 2002. Prospective study of outcome of cataract surgery in children.
A qualitative study on children with blindness and vision related disability in Bangladesh.
A study to assess the impact of blindness and sight restoring surgery in children in terms of neurodevelopment using Raynell-Zinkin Scale for developmental assessment.
Development of a novel method to identify blind children from the communities and households: The Key Informant Method.
A study to assess the Functional Vision in Children before and after sight restoring surgery.
A situation analysis of paediatric eye care services in Bangladesh.
A situation analysis of educational facilities for children with blindness and vision related disability in Bangladesh.
A situation analysis of rehabilitation facilities for children with blindness and vision related disability in Bangladesh.
During the implementation of several research studies CBPB team visited and worked in all 64 districts of Bangladesh and developed an extensive network of organisations and individuals concerned with blind children. This network was further developed and supported by CBPB to create a new platform for interested individuals and organisations with a view to control childhood blindness-this organisation was formally initiated as ChildSight Foundation in December 2002.
CBPB provided services to blind children throughout the country.
Over 1,200 sight-restoring surgeries were performed with the support from CBPB.
Over 800 children received sight restoring cataract surgery.
Over 2,000 blind children were identified by CBPB and examined by the CBPB ophthalmologist during the National Study.
Over 600 children were advised and referred for sight restoring cataract surgery completely free of cost.
Over 700 children who had been operated for cataract were re-traced and re-examined after one year of surgery to assess the outcome.