Orbis is part of the global effort to work towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals for creating a better world by 2030. The Qatar Fund for Development works to deliver on Qatar’s international commitments by supporting the achievement of these goals.
Many of the SDGs drive the creation of effective eye health programmes to support communities and growth, these include:
Poverty: 90% of sight loss occurs in low- and middle-income countries where eye care can be hard to reach. Untreated vision loss can hinder educations and livelihoods. By creating and providing quick access to effective eye health facilities, the futures of adults and children are not impacted by preventable and treatable conditions.
Good Health and Wellbeing: Unmanaged eye health is inextricably linked to increase mortality, lower levels of well-being, and higher rates of depression.
Good education: Children with vision impairment have poorer educational outcomes and are more likely to be excluded from schools. In addition, children may also be called upon to look after a relative with sight loss. Access to eye health helps to prevent all of these outcomes.
Gender Equality: Women have worse access to eye health services and when it comes to Trachoma, the condition is far more prevalent in women than men, with women accounting for 70% of cases.
Clean Water and Sanitation: The ability to wash your face with clean water and access good toilets plays a vital role in the work to eliminate trachoma. Education to change behaviour also plays a vital role when facilities are created for communities.
Reduced inequalities: Women, people with disabilities, indigenous people, refugees, and migrants are those most affected by poor eye health. Creating inclusive services are vital.
Partnership for the Goals: The Goals cannot be delivered without partnership with a broad range of coalitions and work with leading organisations, including the eye health sector.