Non-profit VisionSpring launched eyesight testing of 47,500 Zambians and 681 members of the Dalai Lama’s community in India as part of overseas eye care programmes.
VisionSpring collaborated with Live Well and the Council of Churches Zambia (CCZ) to carry out the Reading Glasses for Improved Livelihoods (RGIL) programme in Zambia and provide 12,600 people with reading glasses.
Ella Gudwin, CEO of VisionSpring said: ‘We are honoured to collaborate with Live Well and CCZ to build healthy, prosperous communities. With each pair of glasses, individuals will sustain their livelihoods and increase earnings; experience greater safety and well-being; and more easily participate in mobile banking and the digital economy.’
Live Well’s Lusaka hub manager Ricky Phiri said that 400 community health professionals have delivered services in the Eastern, Muchinga, Lusaka and Luapula provinces, and will grow to include all 10 of Zambia’s provinces to reach 110,000 people in 2024.
In India, the company said it delivered the first-ever vision screening for the Dalai Lama’s community members in the city of Dharamshala, including monks, artisans, and students. In total, 385 community members now have clear vision through VisionSpring eyeglasses.
Anshu Taneja, managing director of VisionSpring, India added: ‘We are grateful to His Holiness for this humbling opportunity and his support for our mission to make clear vision through eyeglasses accessible and affordable for all.
‘It was a huge privilege for our team to visit the Gyato, Kirti and Namgyal Buddhist monasteries and the Norbulingka art institute - where ancient Tibetan art is practised - to provide eyeglasses to His Holiness’ community members, the first pair for most.’