The Bright Sight: NTDs prevention and Eye Health Care for persons with disabilities and vulnerable groupS
South Sudan
Status
ImplementationAid type
Project-type interventionsSouth Sudan
Location
-
€ 2,558,703
Committed
Committed
€ 1,535,221
Used
Used
Description
The project aims at improving access to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) prevention services and Eye Care services in a 3-year time span in Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria and Lakes States, South Sudan, in line with targets 3.3 and 3.8 of Sustainable Development Goal no. 3. The proposal is aimed particularly at the most vulnerable categories of the population, such as people with disabilities, women and children, and it has been agreed upon directly with the States’ Ministries of Health, partners of the project, thanks to the long-standing presence and expertise of CBM Italy, CUAMM and CORDAID in the country. These preconditions guarantee the full endorsement of the proposal by government authorities, its alignment with the countrys thematic and geographical priorities, and its response to the needs of the area of intervention. Despite the integration of Neglected Tropical Diseases prevention policies in primary health services, the needs identified in South Sudan are still alarming: the WHO ranks South Sudan 41st out of 49 African countries in terms of coverage of health services to contrast NTDs. The 5 main and most common NTDs in the country (onchocerciasis and trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, intestinal worms and schistosomiasis) can be easily treated, and prevention is of utter importance: 90% of NTDs can be treated with basic medicines and simple screening. In the country, these infectious diseases affect the poorest and most vulnerable people living in severe poverty and in remote areas, where the availability of health services, basic hygiene resources (clean water, sanitation) is inadequate. NTDs can worsen the impact of other diseases (malaria, tuberculosis) and, if not identified in time, lead to permanent disability and blindness. In addition to NTDs, visual diseases constitute the majority (23.5%) of the most common causes of disability reported among the South Sudanese population; 80% of cases are preventable but, if left untreated, the most serious of these diseases can lead to blindness and permanent disability; not surprisingly, the most affected are the most vulnerable people. The needs identified in the South Sudanese context during the field assessments, highlighted three main problems related to the high prevalence of NTDs and visual diseases leading to disability and blindness: a) major lack of prevention and health education; b) severe shortage of primary health care and eye care services; c) total absence of specialized services addressed to the most vulnerable groups. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic had a strong negative impact on the national health system with regard to the above-mentioned issues and harmed especially the most fragile categories. During the 3 years of implementation foreseen by the project proposal, the leading organization CBM Italy, in collaboration with CUAMM and CORDAID and the State Ministries of Health, partners of the project, intend to stregthen the South Sudanese health system, working on 3 strategic pillars to fight NTDs and promote eye health: - Health education, strengthening inclusive NTDs prevention practices in local communities, training, raising awareness and promoting COVID-19 pandemic prevention and containment interventions, under the conviction that health promotion is key to monitoring and containment. - Strengthening community health services with continued decentralization and dissemination of inclusive and accessible Eye Care and prevention services. The diffusion of proximity health services is in continuity with the strengthening of the South Sudanese health system initiated by CBM Italy in previous years and continued with CUAMM and CORDAID in the project cofunded by AICS (AID11448), improving the quality of the already existing services and extending them to new areas of the country.
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| Year | Committed | Used |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | € 2,558,703 | € 1,535,221 |
Agency
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| Government | AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development | 11000 |
Channel reported
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| National NGO | CBM ITALIA ONLUS | 22000 |
Project data
Sectors
Policy markers
SDGs
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