The National Eye Health Advocacy Project (NEHAP) addresses the critical yet neglected issue of eye health inequity in South Africa. Despite growing needs, eye health services face crippling budget constraints, inadequate public administration, and significant backlogs in essential services like cataract surgery and optometry. The majority of the country’s eye health workforce is concentrated in the private urban sector, leaving marginalized communities underserved.
NEHAP seeks to bridge the gap between policy and programs by fostering public-private partnerships and strengthening fractured monitoring and evaluation systems. Key initiatives include:
- Eyes on The Road Campaigns targeting drivers.
- Community screening and testing campaigns with subsidized spectacles.
- Cataract surgery collaborations to reduce backlogs.
- Research and advocacy to inform policy change.
- Community awareness and school screenings to reach vulnerable groups.
- Practitioner forums and support services to improve morale and engagement.
- Legislative submissions to Parliament, SARS, and the Department of Trade and Industry.
NEHAP is committed to driving systemic change and ensuring equitable, sustainable eye health services for all South Africans.