Thursday, 10 October, marks "World Sight Day", and to commemorate this important occasion, BRAC and VisionSpring have announced a remarkable milestone. Over the past 18 years, their joint efforts have provided free eye care services to 12,102,183 people across Bangladesh. Of these, 2,461,676 individuals have regained their vision with the help of affordable glasses. These life-changing services have been made available since the launch of their partnership in 2006, covering 61 districts nationwide up until September this year.
"World Sight Day", observed annually on the second Thursday of October, highlights the critical need for eye care worldwide. Vision impairment hinders an individual’s productivity, education, and social inclusion. Yet, a simple solution such as correctly powered glasses can greatly enhance one’s quality of life. The Reading Glasses for Improved Livelihoods (RGIL) initiative, a joint effort by BRAC and VisionSpring, addresses these challenges by restoring normal vision and enabling individuals with vision problems to lead meaningful and productive lives.
What began as a pilot programme in two sub-districts (upazilas) of Manikganj has now expanded to 61 districts by 2024. Under this initiative, community health workers have been trained to conduct preliminary eye tests, distribute glasses, and refer complex cases to specialised doctors. Currently, over 32,000 health workers are providing services to those suffering from vision problems.
As part of a long-term plan to provide affordable reading glasses to low-income elderly individuals, BRAC Microfinance has been working jointly with VisionSpring since November 2023. To date, this initiative has reached approximately 5,000 people in areas such as Faridpur, Shariatpur, Madaripur, and Gopalganj, where free eye care has been provided. Nearly 3,500 individuals have received glasses at affordable rates. Notably, BRAC Microfinance integrates healthcare services with its operations, prioritising the health and wellbeing of its members while working to alleviate poverty.
