Seeing into the future

Vision Programme Achievements 2019

By Standing Voice

December 17^th, 2019

Five years ago, Standing Voice established its Vision Programme to break the cycle of poor eyesight and poor learning affecting so many children with albinism in Tanzania. Today the programme has grown to serve thousands of people with albinism across 9 regions of Tanzania. All patients receive low vision examinations, assistive devices (such as monocular telescopes and prescription glasses), and education in the management of low vision.

Following large-scale clinics in Arusha and Mwanza in the spring, the second half of 2019 has seen the Vision Programme travel to Morogoro and Dar es Salaam. It was the programme’s first visit to Morogoro, where we enrolled 242 new patients, and second time in Dar es Salaam, where we served 449 patients.

Across our four major ‘vision events’ this year, we have supported 1,613 patients and distributed 2,646 assistive vision devices, including 869 pairs of prescription glasses tailored to meet the specific vision needs of our patients.

The Vision Programme has continued to impact positively on the educational performance of hundreds of students with albinism in Tanzania. Research conducted on a representative sample of 527 student patients demonstrated a 21% increase in A grades and a 38% decrease in D grades following receipt of our support through the Vision Programme this year.

We have taken significant steps this year to extend the teacher training dimension of the Vision Programme, engaging 121 teachers across 12 schools to promote inclusive education practices. This network of professionals are equipped to support students with albinism and advocate for their rights, providing a vital institutional safety net for hundreds of students who might otherwise be misunderstood and marginalised.

“This training will empower teachers to understand the needs of children with albinism. We weren't so aware of their visual impairment before. Now we have a really good understanding of their low vision and the appropriate teaching strategies we must keep in mind.”

Rosie Hagu -- Teacher, Uhuru Mchanganyiko School

Standing Voice has developed a number of resources to support teachers in the inclusive education of people with albinism. We have worked closely with world-leading albinism specialist Dr Rebecca Kammer (clinical director of the Vision Programme), teachers, people with albinism and the Universities of Lancaster, Coventry and Worcester to develop a new resource for teachers entitled ‘Albinism: an information booklet for teachers in Tanzania’. This booklet is an essential and unique resource containing vital information about the genetic origins of albinism, supporting students with albinism and managing low vision and UV exposure. This year, Standing Voice has distributed 120 Swahili copies of the booklet to 17 schools in five different regions across the country.

“The booklet is excellent. The teaching techniques included in the booklet are super. If all teachers and stakeholders follow this, it will really improve conditions in schools.”

Emmanuel Ibrahim -- Teacher, Salvation Army Primary School

We pride ourselves on continuing to increase awareness of the needs of people with albinism through outreach endeavours and resources. In particular, our clinical services in Morogoro this year coincided with our Tanzanian celebrations of the UN-proclaimed International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) on June 13. In an event at Jamhuri Stadium, we were able to share our clinical programme and join in celebration of albinism with a range of high-level government and civil society representatives.

Standing Voice extends its heartfelt thanks to our Vision Programme partners Essilor Vision For Life, Under the Same Sun (UTSS), the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS), KCMC School of Optometry and the Tanzania Optometric Association (TOA). We’d also like to express our extreme gratitude to all of the optometrists working tirelessly across our programme throughout the year, who make the programme what it is today. And finally to our patients with albinism, alongside their families and teachers, without whom this service would not exist.