IRIS was established (1996), by Michele Claudel and John Stewart, primarily in response to eye care needs identified amongst the poorest of the poor in Cambodia. Since then, support has been extended to eye care development programs in Nepal, Laos and more recently Sri Lanka where IRIS equips new eye clinics, strengthens existing ones, conducts eye screening, provides cataract surgery for poor people, primary eye care training for staff working on tea plantations and supports the National Eye Care Plan of the Ministry of Health.
Project
In cooperation with the local NGO Eyecare Foundation, with the project presented to GW, IRIS ASIA wants to screen circa 900 women referred by the estate medical assistants in specially equipped mobile units on tea estates, of which an estimated 200 women will get cataract surgery. In the plantations, women over the age of 45 are more susceptible to cataracts than others. The program took place in early 2010.
Impact to date
Established in Cambodia to respond to the sight care needs of the population, the organization grew fast and expanded its services to Nepal, Laos and Sri Lanka. It is part of VISION 2020, a global initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), for the elimination of avoidable blindness. It is a charity registered in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France and the United States. IRIS ASIA is partly funded by institutions and private donations such as Foundation Dark & Light (the Netherlands), Kadoorie Charitable Foundations (Hong Kong) and Frères des nos Frères, the Républiqueet Canton de Genève and Foundation Tellus Viva (all based in Switzerland).
From July 1996 to December 2010, IRIS ASIA provided 219,362 people with eye examinations; gave free spectacles to 32,749 people and restored the sight of 59,523 people with cataracts or other blinding conditions. In Cambodia, IRIS funds the work of 5 eye clinics in 4 provinces, stages eye camps in the 5 provinces of Cambodia that remain without any eye care facilities and runs an annual eye screening, refraction and surgery for cyclo drivers in Phnom Penh. In Nepal, IRIS has funded cataract and other surgeries undertaken through IRIS-Nepal Micro Surgical Mobile Eye Camps in remote, rural areas. In Sri Lanka, IRIS has equipped 5 new eye clinics, provided new equipment to 14 existing eye clinics, organized primary eye care training for tea plantation staff and conducted many eye screening camps that have provided glasses free-of-charge and subsidized the cost of cataract surgery for poor people (www.irisasia.org).
Sustainability
IRIS ASIA has proven records of success and donors trust. It has built diversification of funding sources that guarantee long term sustainability.
IRIS ASIA I (2010)
Specific needs expressed to Giving Women:
Funding: total budget for project CHF 9,730; donations or help with fund raising are required;
•Visibility: help IRIS Asia get onFacebook, YouTube and other social media platforms to increase visibility and support;
•Marketing: help to prepare project presentation; translations of marketing and information material into German, Italian;
•Contacts: facilitate contacts in German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland and abroad with potential funders.
What has the Giving Women Project Circle achieved for the project?
• In July 2010, the Project Circle raised CHF 9,730 that enabled IRIS ASIA to undertake the project in Sri Lanka and provide cataract surgery for 200 women tea pickers. A full report of the screening visits and operations undertaken by IRIS ASIA director is attached.
• Additional CHF 60’000 were raised for the project by the project advocate Michaela Troyanov.
• Project Advocate Michaela Troyanov accompanied Michèle Claudel of IRIS ASIA for a 2 weeks donator’s trip to Cambodia and Sri Lanka, in November 2010. She met all the local personal of IRIS Asia, and many of their local partners and could witness on site the very efficient and sustainable work performed by IRIS Asia:she assisted to 2 mobile eye camps (including one on a Sri Lankan Tea Plantation finaced by GW/Tellus Viva, and to 2 eye surgeries, in Cambodia and Sri Lanka. She came back convinced of the quality and impact of IRIS’ work in these countries.
The direct support of Giving Women to the project phase I ended on March 2011 since all the objectives were met. However Giving Women,with the suggestion and commitment of Michaela Troyanov, accepted to approve an extension of the project: IRIS ASIA phase II described below.
IRIS ASIA II (2011)
Project: IRIS & Lions Eye Screening, Refraction and Surgery Camps, Southern Province
One weekend a month, eye screening camps will be staged for poor people living in communities in southern Sri Lanka. Each camp will be held over 2 days and provide eye screening for 500 people, glasses for approx. 300 people and cataract surgery for 50 people. A medical team from the Lions Gift of Sight Hospital will conduct all eye testing, examinations and surgery. Over the period of 12 months, 6,000 poor people will have their eyes examined, 3,600 people will be provided with glasses free-of-charge and 600 poor people will undergo cataract surgery.
Specific needs expressed to Giving Women:
• Funding needs for US$ 15,000 towards a 12-month programme of eye screening, refraction and surgery camps organised by IRIS & the Lions Gift of Sight Hospital costing US$50,800, with US$22,360 already been earmarked for this programme from grants secured by Michaela Troyanov and with IRIS providing the balance required of US$13,440.
What has the Giving Women Project Circle achieved for the project?
• The Giving Women Project Circle and in particular the project advocate Michaela Troyanov has raised for IRIS ASIA II US$ 122,360, of which CHF 100’000 will be disbursed in a three-year programm.
The direct support of Giving Women to the project phase II ended on April 2011 since all the objectives were met. However Giving Women continues to recommend the project and the organization. If you wish to support IRIS ASIA contact us at contactinfo@givingwomen.ch
Document attached with further details for download :
