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Talobeeg Foundation’s Impact: Integrated Awareness, Screening, Treatment and Support Project for Children with Vision Impairments in Puntland

Introduction:

Talobeeg Foundation embarked on a transformative project in Puntland, Somalia, focusing on addressing the pressing issue of vision impairments among children. Here’s a retrospective look at their impactful endeavor:

Project Overview:

In 2019 and 2021, Talobeeg Foundation implemented the Integrated Awareness, Screening, Treatment, and Support Project for Children with Vision Impairments in Puntland. This project was aimed to tackle the prevalence of vision impairments among school children in selected districts in Puntland particularly Galkaio and Gardo.

Activities Implemented:

  1. Outreach Awareness: Conducted outreach awareness activities targeting students, school administrations, local communities, education, and health authorities, and parents across selected schools.
  2. Establishment of School Eye Screening Model: Established a School Eye Screening Model in collaboration with Kafi Eye Specialty Hospital and provided integrated screenings, treatment, and support services to children identified with specialty eye conditions such as Refractive Errors, Allergic diseases including VKC, Amblyopia & strabismus, and low vision.
  3. Enhancement of Referral Mechanisms: Enhanced referral mechanisms at school levels and offered information and training to head teachers, community education committees, authorities, and parents while also establishing effective coordination mechanisms between mobile teams, schools, and communities to enhance service delivery.

Outcome and Impact:

  • Awareness Raised: Increased awareness among local communities, authorities, schools, and parents regarding the needs of children with eye-related conditions among school children in Puntland.
  • Access to Services: Provided integrated screenings, treatment, and support services to children with vision impairments, ensuring early diagnosis and intervention.
  • Capacity Building: Trained teachers, community education committees, authorities, and parents on methods to identify and help children with eye conditions, enhancing the referral system and coordination mechanisms.
  • Direct Beneficiaries: Benefited 1,000 school children and youth between the ages of 6 to 18 years in 4 selected schools in Puntland.

Challenges:

The project encountered significant challenges due to insufficient financial resources. This constraint severely restricted the scope of the project, impacting the number of schools and children that could be reached. With limited funds available, Talobeeg Foundation and Puntland Community ry Finland faced difficulties in expanding their outreach efforts and implementing the project on a larger scale. As a result, they were compelled to prioritize and focus their efforts on a smaller number of schools, limiting the overall impact of the initiative. The funding gap posed a significant barrier to the project’s success, highlighting the critical need for additional financial support to address vision impairments effectively in Puntland.

Conclusion:

Talobeeg Foundation’s Integrated Awareness, Screening, Treatment, and Support Project for Children with Vision Impairments in Puntland has made significant strides in addressing the needs of vulnerable children in the region. By implementing a holistic approach that combines awareness raising, screening, treatment, and support services, the foundation has played a pivotal role in ensuring that every child has access to essential eye care services, thereby paving the way for a brighter and healthier future for young persons to thrive regardless of their circumstances.