The Fred Hollows Foundation and Jordan’s IHF jointly launch a new pilot eye health project

JORDAN – The Fred Hollows Foundation and the Institute for Family Health (IFH) have launched the pilot phase of a new eye health project in the capital of Jordan.

The new project is set to make a significant impact on the lives of at least 10,000 refugees and vulnerable Jordanian children and their caregivers every year.

It is a significant step toward transforming the lives of refugee children and marginalized Jordanian children as well as unlocking their potential by restoring their eyesight.

Commenting on the new contribution, Ian Wishart, the Chief Executive Officer of The Fred Hollows Foundation, said: “The pilot project aims to address and treat refractive errors among refugee children and marginalized Jordanian children. This is a leading cause of vision impairment which often hampers learning and social development in children.”

In the initial phase, the project will focus on treating children with visual impairment caused by uncorrected refractive errors.

The initiation phase also involves improving access to eye care services and promoting eye health awareness across the Kingdom of Jordan.

Over three years, the project will employ a multi-faceted approach to ensure that refractive errors are identified early and treated promptly. 

Underscoring the dire medical care challenges, Ian Wishart highlighted: “Right now, 90 percent of vision loss is preventable or treatable and we can address it using highly cost-effective interventions we know will work.”

Moreover, the project comes at a pivotal moment for the Middle East and North Africa as the region seeks to significantly invest in the eye health of people living in the respective MENA countries.

In the MENA region, investing in eye health has proven to be economically rewarding for the region, delivering a return of US$US21.4 for every dollar invested in treating uncorrected refractive error.

Refractive error is a common eye condition where the eye is shaped in such a way that light cannot be accurately focused on the retina. The most recent study to investigate child eye diseases in Jordan reported an 8.9% rate of refractive error in school children.

Demonstrating their shared commitment to ending avoidable blindness and restoring sight to those in need, The Fred Hollows Foundation and IHF have jointly begun rolling out the pilot project to people living in the Kingdom of Jordan.

This collaboration comes as part of the Institute for Family Health’s unwavering efforts to address eye health challenges among school-aged children, particularly refugees and those with disabilities, in Irbid, Zarqa, and Karak governorates.

On his part, Dr. Ibrahim Aqel, the Director of the Institute for Family Health/King Hussein Foundation IFH/KHF – Jordan, stated: “Looking ahead, we aspire to establish a sustainable and integrated eye care model that not only transforms the lives of children in targeted areas but launching similar initiatives across the Middle East and North Africa.”

With the support of The Fred Hollows Foundation, IFH will develop a school screening model, focused community outreach and engagement model, and integrate childhood eye care into the existing national health system

Through structured screenings and strategic partnerships, the Institute for Family Health aims to ensure timely care and support, bridging the gap in access to eye health services.

Speaking on the significance of the new project, Dr. Ibrahim Aqel asserted: “By enhancing access to early eye health services and screening, we are empowering children with visual disability to embrace educational opportunities and a brighter future.”

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.