SightFirst Approves $2.9 Million in Grants

LCIF has recently added another country to its growing list of nations to receive funding through SightFirst grants. With the approval of two grants for Niger, SightFirst has given grants to assist 90 countries throughout the world. During an August meeting, the SightFirst Advisory Committee approved 25 grants for a total of $2.9 million. Since SightFirst began giving grants in 1990, it has awarded over $193 million.

The land-locked nation of Niger in West Africa is roughly double the size of Texas with a population of 12.5 million. It is one of the poorest countries in the world and ranks last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development.

With one of the highest blindness rates in the world, it is estimated that 85 percent of blindness in Niger can be avoided or cured through the proper treatment. Despite the country’s size and high levels of blindness, primarily due to cataract and trachoma, there are only eight ophthalmologists and 27 ophthalmic nurses in the entire country. The number of trained eye care professionals in the country are far too few to care for the entire population, and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates an additional 77 ophthalmic nurses need to be trained to meet the eye care needs of the country. 

To address the ophthalmic nurse shortage in Niger, a SightFirst grant for $127,551 has been approved to develop a three-year training program at the Lamorde National Hospital in Niamey, Niger. The curriculum is being developed by doctors with the Organization for the Prevention of Blindness in collaboration with WHO. SightFirst funds will provide for some academic materials for teaching the courses, upgrading rooms into suitable classrooms and providing the nurses with basic equipment upon graduation, in addition to other items. Upon graduating from the program, nurses will work at rural hospitals or health centers.

SightFirst is a global initiative of LCIF and Lions to prevent blindness and restore sight. LCIF has approved 771 grants in 89 countries for a total of US$187 million.

Grants are approved three times a year by the SAC, composed of Lions international leaders and some of the world's foremost blindness prevention experts.

View the full list of SightFirst grants approved in August.