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2024 has been a remarkable year for the region! We have engaged in meaningful collaborations, delivered impactful initiatives and connected with outstanding members and stakeholders. Together, we’ve advanced eye health initiatives, strengthened partnerships and made real progress towards a future where everyone in Africa can access quality eye care.
Thank you to our partners and all team members for your support and commitment. Let’s continue to build on this momentum, making an even greater impact in the year to come!
Here are some of our key highlights from the year, for more details please visit the links provided:
IAPB has supported the establishment of National Advocacy Networks in Zambia and Ghana to strengthen eye health systems through collaboration and knowledge sharing. These networks bring together government bodies, non-governmental organisations and health care providers to align advocacy efforts with national policies and influence health priorities.
In both countries, the networks have conducted situation analyses of eye health, identified key eye health priorities areas and developed an advocacy strategy to guide the networks initiatives. In Zambia, this stemmed from an IAPB and Orbis-led training for program managers, which equipped them with essential advocacy skills. IAPB continues to provide strategic guidance, technical expertise, and capacity-building support to ensure these networks effectively address local challenges and contribute to the broader 2030 In Sight goals.
In April, IAPB, with support from the Islamic Development Bank, hosted the 2030 In Sight Francophone workshop in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire. The workshop aimed to enlighten participants on the 2030 IN SIGHT Strategy and provide practical tools for its implementation. The workshop brought together delegates from the Ministries of Health and Finance, as well as IAPB member organizations from six countries- Burkina Faso, Cote d’ Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Togo and Mali. Through strategic planning sessions on Elevate, Integrate and Activate, the participants developed action plans around these pillars and committed to the implementation. This effort marks a significant step towards strengthening eye health systems across the Francophone region, aligning with the global 2030 In Sight.
Building on the success of the previous IAPB Human Resources for Eye Health Strategy (2014-2023), IAPB, in collaboration with COECSA and with support from The Fred Hollows Foundation, has developed the Human Resources for Eye Health Strategy for Central, Southern, and Eastern Africa (2025–2030). Officially launched during the August 2024 COECSA Conference in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, this strategy provides a regional framework to leverage existing resources and expertise. The new strategy aims to address critical gaps in eye health workforce development, enhance training capacity, and foster stronger regional collaboration. By equipping stakeholders with targeted guidance and tools, it seeks to ensure sustainable progress in building a robust eye health workforce across the region.
IAPB convened the ECSA-HC Expert Committee on Eye Health on October 29, 2024, in Nairobi to advance eye health initiatives across East, Central, and Southern Africa. The meeting focused on integrating the Central, Southern and Eastern Africa Human Resources for Eye Health (HReH) Strategy (2025–2030) into national health plans. Participants, including representatives from Ministries of Health, IAPB, COECSA, and NGOs, reviewed key challenges such as workforce shortages and regional disparities in eye care services. Key discussions centred on leveraging regional collaboration through ECSA-HC platforms like the Best Practices Forum and the Health Ministers Conference and the team came up with strategies around policy advocacy, standardized training, and knowledge sharing through Communities of Practice to advance the agenda. The committee highlighted opportunities for digital health innovation and committed to presenting the HReH strategy at upcoming regional events.
On August 20, 2024, IAPB hosted a half-day workshop on systems leadership in eye health at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, alongside the 11th COECSA Congress. The workshop addressed the urgent need to prioritize eye care on the global health agenda, given the 1.1 billion people currently affected by sight loss. The event focused on cultivating a new generation of eye health leaders equipped with the skills, understanding, and networks necessary to transform health systems and overcome challenges in systems leadership.
IAPB Africa in partnership with ECSACON, launched an initiative to integrate Primary Eye Care (PEC) into primary healthcare systems across East, Central and Southern Africa aligning with the 69th ECSA Health Ministers Conference Resolution on Equity and Access to Eye Health. To advance this goal, a PEC Master Trainers workshop was held, training 27 master trainers from 12 countries to expand PEC capacity through local training sessions.
Zambia has emerged as a success story, adopting the WHO PEC training manual and contextualizing it for local needs. Since 2021, Zambia has trained 1,138 primary healthcare workers through over 30 district-level trainings significantly enhancing PEC delivery nationwide.
Zambia’s localized implementation strengthens integration by embedding eye health care into primary health services, enabling early diagnosis and treatment at community level, ensuring equitable access to eye care, particularly in underserved areas.
