Eye Care Foundation (ECF) is an international charity organisation active in over 20 countries in

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

and Latin-America. ECF was founded when ''Eyecare Worldwide'' and ''Mekong Eye Doctors'' joined forces in 2008. The two organizations shared the same objectives and working together as the current foundation has proved to be more efficient and effective.

History

Eyecare Worldwide (1984) was founded by a Dutch ophthalmologist who was moved by the plight of the high number of people who suffered from blindness that could be cured or even prevented. Mekong Eye Doctors (1993) was founded by a Dutch biochemist after he had been in Thailand to conduct eye research. Eye Foundation supports projects in Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Tanzania and Vietnam to prevent and cure visual impairment and preventable blindness. The foundation also helps people who don’t have access to good eye care and can’t afford eye care such as glasses or cataract surgery. Eye Care Foundation has offices and hospitals in the Himalayan region (

Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...

), Southeast Asia (

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailan ...

, Laos),

(

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

) and Latin-America ( Suriname,

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

).
Toine van Peperstraten is Ambassador for the Eye Care Foundation.

Countries of operation

Cambodia

The foundation has provided support for eye care in Cambodia since 1997, helping people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. ECF has a focus on building a strong eye care network and providing quality affordable eye care by putting high quality eye care departments in local hospitals. They have collaborated with the National Program For Eye Health by working in partnerships with Provincial Health Services in the provinces of Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie, Svay Rieng, Tbong Khmum, Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Pailin. ECF has instituted eye care services for groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and women and children. In 2007, the Cambodia Office in Phnom Penh was opened.

Laos

ECF first visited Laos in 2007, and started projects in the Xieng Khouang and Houa Phanh provinces in 2011. Support was given in these provinces to increase the quality and availability of eye care. In 2018, the field office in Laos was opened. Two ophthalmologists completed the ophthalmology residency and started their work on projects in the Houaphan and Saysomboun provinces. In Saysomboun, a new eye care unit was established and equipped.

Nepal

ECF supports two major hospitals in Nepal; in Mechi and Pokhara. ECF supports eye health programs in Gandaki, Dhaulagiri, Mechi, Gorkha and Karnali. The Nepal office opened in 1988.

Tanzania

ECF supports the Ministry of Health on two locations: MUHAS University in Dar Es Salaam and

Morogoro Region Morogoro Region (''Mkoa wa Morogoro'' in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of . The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Ireland. Morogoro Region is border ...

.
In Morogoro region the support is to the only two Referral Hospitals St Francis Referral Hospital (

Ifakara Ifakara is a small rural town in the Kilombero District, Morogoro Region, south central Tanzania. It is the headquarters of the Kilombero District administration and the main trading centre for Kilombero and Ulanga districts. The town is located ...

) and the Morogoro Referral Hospital (Morogoro) with an Eye Care Department. The St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences with dr. Azaa, mentors the 4 Eye Units in the districts Mahenge,

Mlimba Mlimba is a town in central Tanzania on the plains. Location Mlimba is in Kilombero District, in Morogoro Region, in south-central Tanzania, approximately , by road, south-west of Kilombero, where the district headquarters are located. This is ...

and Malinyi District. The other 3 districts are mentored via the Morogoro Referral Hospital with dr. Nassania. To support the increase of future Tanzanian eye care colleagues (Ophthalmologists, Optometrists) ECF supports the Muhimbili University for Ophthalmology Studies ( MUHAS) in Dar Es Salaam by Study Grants, Professors, Instruments, Curriculum. ECF is active in Tanzania since 2009 and has had an office in Tanzania since 2018 in

Morogoro Morogoro is a city in the eastern part of Tanzania west of Dar es Salaam. Morogoro is the capital of the Morogoro Region. It is also known informally as "Mji kasoro bahari" which translates to “city short of an ocean/port." The Belgian based ...

City.

Vietnam

ECF supports eye care in Vietnam since 1993. Initially, the foundation was involved in organising eye camps operated by Dutch ophthalmologists and nurses, helping to treat as many cataract patients as possible. ECF has established 2 vision centers in Vinh Long and Dong Thap, with the help of donors, increasing the total to 16 Vision Centers with the Foundation’s support across the Mekong Delta region. The Vietnam office in Ho Chi Minh City opened in 2008.

Publications

* ''Because I carrot, Vitamin A-Rich Recipes for Healthy Eyes.'' ECF:

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...

, 2022, * ''The little book of eyes by Winksy.'' ECF: Phnom Penh, 2022, * ''Kitabu Kidogo cha macho cha Winksy.'' ECF: Dar Es Salaam, 2022, * ''The little Coloring Book of eyes by Winksy.'' ECF:

, 2022, * ''Siku katika maisha ya Leyla & Ray.'' ECF: Dar Es Salaam, 2022, * ''Một ngày của Hy và Ry.'' ECF: Saigon, 2021, * ''A day in the life of Hy & Ry.'' ECF:

, 2021, * ''Mission Eye Care. Johan Enschede Amsterdam (JEA).'' ECF: Amsterdam, 2019,

References

External links

* {{official, http://www.eyecarefoundation.eu/ Health in Africa Health in Asia Health charities in the Netherlands International charities Organizations established in 1984 Humanitarian aid organizations