By Alex Baite
The Ministry of Health has received eight Low Vision Assessment Kits and six Screening Kits valued at $59,671 (about Shs225m) from the All We See Is Possibility (AWSIP) programme, a long-term initiative supporting children and communities with visual impairments in Uganda.
Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, representing the Director General of Health Services, officiated the handover on Monday, 18 August, and applauded AWSIP’s continued contribution to strengthening eye care services. The donation targets 14 health facilities, enhancing the capacity to assess and manage low vision cases across the country.
According to Dr. Kyabayinze, the kits will improve early detection, screening, and management of low vision, particularly amongst school-going children. “I recall my days in community health, where I worked with this programme and saw firsthand its impact. “AWSIP’s progressive work in vision care continues to bridge gaps in our health system,” he noted.
Since 2016, the AWSIP programme, supported by Royal Dutch Vision from the Netherlands and implemented in partnership with Kyambogo University, has worked in 22 primary and 10 secondary schools. Over 21 ophthalmic clinical officers have been trained in refraction and low vision therapy, enabling them to prescribe appropriate devices that help learners stay in school.
To date, 10,939 learners have been screened under the programme, with 2,542 identified with low vision challenges and 822 receiving corrective devices.
The new donation includes Low Vision Assessment Kits for Mulago National Referral Hospital, Jinja, Gulu, Moroto, and Kasese Regional Referral Hospitals, and Ruharo Hospital, as well as Makerere and Kyambogo Universities.
Screening kits have also been donated to Kabale, Soroti, Lira, and Arua Regional Referral Hospitals, plus Tororo and Iganga General Hospitals.
The AWSIP programme is coordinated in Uganda by William Obella (Country Coordinator), Kyebagadha Binasali (Programs Technical Advisor), and Dr Naomi Nsubuga (Eye Health Advisor).
The initiative focusses on empowering children and young people with visual impairments through inclusion, adapted ICT training, and personal assistance to enhance education and employment opportunities.