Integrated School and Community Eye Health (I-SCEH) Project

The Integrated School and Community Eye Health (I-SCEH) Project, implemented by the Equitable Health Access Initiative (EHAI) under the USAID Childhood Blindness Program (CBP), was designed to improve access to quality eye care services for vulnerable children under 18 in Oyo State, Nigeria. The project aimed to reduce the burden of preventable childhood blindness by integrating sight-saving services into the community, School Health, and Primary Healthcare Systems across four selected Local Government Areas (LGAs): Akinyele, Ibadan North, Ibadan South-East, and Ibadan South-West.

Target Population

The project targeted:

• Children under 18 years in both urban slum communities and high-population areas.
• School children attending primary and secondary schools in the selected LGAs.

Project Objective

The primary objective of the I-SCEH project was to increase access to comprehensive eye care services through capacity building and community engagement, ultimately improving the eye health outcomes of children and preventing childhood blindness.

Key Activities and Achievements

• Training of personnel: 120 healthcare workers, 48 medical records staff, 320 teachers, and 40 key informants were trained to screen children for eye diseases and provide eye care services.
• Screening and treatment: Over 75,000 children were screened for visual impairments and eye ailments.
• Corrective measures: 6,000 children were provided with corrective lenses, and 400 children received services for low vision.
• Non-surgical interventions: 2,500 children were treated for various eye conditions through non-surgical treatments.
• Referral services: Linkage and referral services were provided to children requiring specialized care.

This initiative, running across four LGAs, has significantly contributed to reducing childhood blindness and improving eye health services within the community, schools, and health facilities in Oyo State.