INTERNATIONAL EYE FOUNDATION

EYE HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM:IEF'S SIGHTREACH LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM COMBINES STATE-OF-THE-ART CLINICAL EYE CARE WITH LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES TO CREATE A SOCIAL-ENTREPRENEURIAL APPROACH TO EYE CARE DELIVERY. IEF ASSISTS EYE HOSPITALS IN THE PRIVATE, SOCIAL, AND PUBLIC SECTORS IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE AVAILABILITY, ACCESS, EFFICIENCY, AND QUALITY OF CARE. THEY ALSO INCREASE REVENUE AND THE CAPACITY TO GROW THEIR SERVICES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O, PAGE 41)SINCE 1999, IEF'S PARTNERSHIP NETWORK HAS GROWN TO OVER 73 EYE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IN 23 COUNTRIES. IEF AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO HIGH-VOLUME, LOW-COST SERVICES, EXAMINED MORE THAN 11 MILLION PERSONS, PERFORMED OVER 735,000 TREATMENTS AND SURGERIES, INCREASED NET POSITIVE REVENUE, AND SERVED ALL INCOME GROUPS, INCLUDING THE POOREST. IEF'S EXPERTISE INCLUDES TRAINING AND MENTORING HOSPITAL TEAMS IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, PROGRAM DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION. THE FOUNDATION IS EXPANDING ITS SUPPORT FOR PARTNER HOSPITALS THROUGH THE GROWTH OF VISION CENTERS, STANDARDIZING MONITORING PROCESSES, PROVIDING AND EVALUATING ADVANCED EQUIPMENT WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) ABILITY, AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH.A. STRENGTHENING PRIMARY EYE CARE SERVICES IN INDIA - MARCH 2021 TO FEBRUARY 2023.THE ALCON FOUNDATION AWARDED A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 (2021-2023) TO SUPPORT COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE IEF AND THE SUSRUT EYE FOUNDATION & RESEARCH CENTER, THE SILIGURI HOSPITAL, ROTARY EYE HOSPITAL, UDHAMPUR, BANSARA HOSPITAL, AND OTHER SUBSIDIARIES AND VISION CENTERS IN THE NORTH AND THE NORTH-EAST REGION OF INDIA. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTED HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP AT THE FOUR HOSPITALS TO ADAPT TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND MAINTAIN PATIENT SERVICE DELIVERY. THE KEY OBJECTIVES WERE EXPANDING MENTORING AND TRAINING USING VIRTUAL MIXED-USE LEARNING MODULES DEVELOPED IN 2020-2021. THE PROGRAM MODIFIED TRAINING MODULES FOR ONLINE USE DUE TO RESTRICTIONS LIMITING IN-PERSON GATHERINGS DURING THE EMERGENCY. THE TRAINING OFFERED THREE-MONTH CERTIFICATE COURSES FOR OPHTHALMIC TECHNICIANS (OT) AND QUALITY AUDITORS (QA). TRAINING INCLUDED TEAM-BASED PRACTICE IN THE OPERATING ROOM. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM CONDUCTED WEBINARS ON THE FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION ACT, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE, FUNDRAISING, AND CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL QUALITY. THE PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTED THE INSTALLATION AND TRAINING OF A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, SUPPORTED COVID-19 RECOVERY PLANNING AND CONSULTATIONS BY TELEMEDICINE, EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF VISION CENTERS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER DOOR-TO-DOOR SCREENING, AND CONDUCTED A PARTNER COALITION MEETING TO SHARE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE. B. STRENGTHENING PRIMARY EYE CARE SERVICES IN INDIA - MARCH 2023 TO FEBRUARY 2025.THE ALCON FOUNDATION AWARDED A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $375,000 (2023-2025) TO EXPAND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE IEF AND THE SUSRUT EYE FOUNDATION & RESEARCH CENTER, THE SILIGURI HOSPITAL, ROTARY EYE HOSPITAL, UDHAMPUR, AND BANSARA HOSPITAL, OTHER SUBSIDIARIES AND VISION CENTERS IN THE NORTH AND THREE ADDITIONAL HOSPITALS, LV PRASAD EYE INSTITUTE, ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL, AND DR. SHROFF'S CHARITY EYE HOSPITAL. THIS PROGRAM COVERS THREE KEY AREAS: 1) STRENGTHENING MONITORING PROCESSES AND STANDARDIZED INDICATORS TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 20 VISION CENTER SERVICES, 2) ENABLING 7 VISION CENTERS TO USE ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND EVALUATING THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VCS EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED EQUIPMENT, AND 3) ENABLING SUSRUT HOSPITAL TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE CENTER IN THE REGION TO CONTINUE CERTIFICATE COURSES TRAINING AND SERVE AS A CENTER FOR CERTIFICATION OF HOSPITALS.OBJECTIVE 1) STRENGTHEN 20 VISION CENTERS MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING BY ESTABLISHING STANDARDIZED INDICATORS, MONITORING SYSTEMS, AND A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AGENDA. THIS ACTIVITY SUPPORTS A WORKING GROUP OF THE SEVEN HOSPITAL PARTNERS TO PLAN, EVALUATE, AND STANDARDIZE THE EXISTING DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VC SCREENING AND REFERRAL PROCESSES AND TO INTRODUCE SCREENING PROCESSES TO IDENTIFY AND REFER PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND GLAUCOMA SUSPECTS TO THE SECONDARY AND TERTIARY HOSPITALS.OBJECTIVE 2) - TO ENHANCE 7 VISION CENTERS TO BRING SUB-SPECIALTY CARE TO THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, BRIDGING THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN PRIMARY AND HIGHER LEVELS BY LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY. EACH PARTNER HOSPITAL IS INSTALLING IN ONE OF THEIR VISION CENTERS ADVANCED FUNDUS CAMERAS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAPACITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY PERIMETERS (VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS) TO AID OPHTHALMIC TECHNICIANS IN IDENTIFYING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND EARLY GLAUCOMA SUSPECTS FOR REFERRAL TO THEIR BASE HOSPITALS. A SUB-OBJECTIVE IS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ADVANCED EQUIPMENT TO IDENTIFY, REFER, AND IMPROVE FOLLOW-UP CARE.OBJECTIVE 3) - ESTABLISH SUSRUT HOSPITAL'S LEADERSHIP ROLE AS A CENTER FOR CERTIFICATION OF HOSPITALS TO MEET THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD FOR HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS (NABH) REQUIREMENTS. THIS INTERVENTION IS TRAINING A CORE GROUP OF SUSRUT HOSPITAL'S PROFESSIONALS TO COMPLETE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS THAT ESTABLISH THE HOSPITAL AS A RECOGNIZED CENTER TO FACILITATE OTHER REGIONAL HOSPITALS TO NAVIGATE AND COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATION PROCESSES, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF NABH-CERTIFIED HOSPITALS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE NATIONAL AND OTHER INSURANCE REMUNERATION. AS A RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS, 20 VISION CENTERS HAVE EXAMINED 140,545 PEOPLE, PROVIDED 23,000 PAIRS OF EYEGLASSES, CONDUCTED 29,201 TELE-CONSULTATIONS, AND IDENTIFIED 12,224 CATARACT CASES. SEVEN OF THESE VCS, AIDED BY ADVANCED EQUIPMENT, SCREENED 13,362 INDIVIDUALS WITH AN AI-ENABLED FUNDUS CAMERA FOR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND 1,747 INDIVIDUALS WITH A VIRTUAL REALITY PERIMETRY MACHINE FOR GLAUCOMA.

CHILD BLINDNESS PROGRAM - 2018-2023:THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS THE CHILD BLINDNESS PROGRAM, SUPPORTING EXPANDING ACCESS TO QUALITY EYE HEALTH SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR AT RISK OF BLINDNESS. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS NON-GOVERNMENTAL EYE ORGANIZATIONS AND EYE HOSPITALS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN PROVIDED WITH HIGH-QUALITY CARE AND ADVANCE GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE, BEST PRACTICES, AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO PEDIATRIC EYE HEALTH PROGRAMS THROUGH A WORLDWIDE COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O, PAGE 44) USAID AWARDED A CONTRACT TO INTEGRATIVE SCIENCES, LLC (INTSCI) TO PRIME A $11.4 MILLION GRANTS-UNDER-CONTRACT PROGRAM (2018-2023) WITH A SUB-CONTRACT TO INTERNATIONAL EYE FOUNDATION'S TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP (TAG) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,641,945 (AMENDED) TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO GRANT AWARDS OVER FIVE YEARS. IN FY 2024, THE TAG SUPPORTED 58 GRANTS (AVERAGE AWARD AMOUNT OF $200,000 OVER TWO YEARS) TO 31 ORGANIZATIONS IN 27 COUNTRIES ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASIA, AFRICA, EUROPE, LATIN AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN. THE IEF/TAG PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THESE GRANTEES TO BUILD CAPACITY FOR EXAMINING INFANTS IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS, EYE SCREENING FOR PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, REFRACTIVE ERROR AND EYEGLASSES, MEDICAL TREATMENT, SURGERY, LOW VISION SERVICES, AND OTHER FOLLOW-UP CARE. IN ADDITION, THE CBP PROGRAM SUPPORTS TRAINING FOR PEDIATRIC EYE CARE PERSONNEL, DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT, AND LOW-VISION AIDS AND SERVICES FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN. ALL PROGRAMS ADDRESS CROSS-CUTTING STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE (IDENTIFICATION, SCREENING, REFERRAL, TREATMENT, AND FOLLOW-UP PATHWAYS); INTEGRATE SERVICES INTO GOVERNMENT SERVICES; PROMOTE GENDER EQUITY; DOCUMENT COMPLIANCE WITH TREATMENT AND USE OF EYEGLASSES; PROMOTE EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES AND PREFERRED PRACTICES; AND TRAINING OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, MID-LEVEL EYE HEALTH PERSONNEL, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH WORKERS. THE IEF/TAG CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHILD BLINDNESS PROGRAM'S MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND ADAPTATION AGENDA. DURING FY2024, THE PROGRAM HAD IN TOTAL SCREENED OVER 4.7 MILLION CHILDREN; REFERRED 395,265 CHILDREN; PROVIDED 215,440 PAIRS OF EYEGLASSES; TREATED 410,572 FOR PRIMARY CONDITIONS; PERFORMED 17,663 SURGERIES AND EXAMINATIONS UNDER ANESTHESIA; STRENGTHENED 2,130 SERVICE SITES AND TRAINED 38,572 SERVICE PROVIDERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CBP CORE TEAM AND THE IEF/TAG CONDUCTED 13 SITE VISITS TO PROJECTS IN AFRICA, ASIA, AND LATIN AMERICA TO MONITOR AND STRENGTHEN GRANTEE OBJECTIVES. THE TAG ALSO CONDUCTED A PARTNER MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM OVER 22 ORGANIZATIONS IN NEPAL.