EYElliance, in collaboration with Uganda’s Ministries of Education and Health, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Peek Vision, has embarked on the largest-ever School Eye Health Rapid Assessment (SEHRA). This assessment is a key step in helping the government of Uganda understand the scope and patterns of eye health issues among primary school children.
The survey, using Peek Vision's digital assessment tools, will provide critical data that will help shape Uganda's first national school eye health program.
What is a SEHRA?
The SEHRA is a rapid assessment designed to evaluate 1) the eye health needs of students and 2) the current context for providing school eye health services. It was developed by Peek Vision in collaboration with the International Centre for Eye Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and an advisory group of leading eye health organizations. EYElliance continues to be part of the advisory group involved in developing and refining this approach.
Unlike previous studies in Uganda, which were conducted several years ago and focus on limited geographic regions, this SEHRA will offer more up-to-date and comprehensive data. SEHRA results are intended to help governments build the evidence base to inform programs to improve eye care access for students. Students screened during the SEHRA also benefit from immediate solutions, such as on-site provision of eyeglasses or referrals for more complex cases.
This makes the SEHRA not just a data-gathering exercise but an action-oriented initiative, and a crucial first step toward developing sustainable, nationwide school eye health initiatives.
Why This SEHRA Matters
Uganda’s public primary schools serve approximately 6 million pupils, yet there is limited data on the prevalence of eye health issues affecting these children. Poor vision is believed to be one of the most common disabilities among children in Uganda, but accurate, up-to-date data to support this is limited.
The SEHRA aims to fill this knowledge gap by gathering current, high-quality data that will serve as the foundation for evidence-based policies and programs.
It will address this data gap by conducting vision screenings in 60 randomly selected schools across six regions, representing a diverse cross-section of Uganda’s public-school population. By using Peek Vision’s digital, clinically validated vision-testing app, this tool ensures high-quality, real-time data collection. What makes this initiative even more significant is that it marks the largest school eye health rapid assessment using Peek to date.
The outcomes of this assessment will offer a clear understanding of the prevalence of refractive errors and other vision-impairing and eye health conditions, while also identifying regional patterns and gaps inservice provision.
Beyond Data Collection: A Government-Led Approach
The SEHRA is more than just a survey; it is part of a holistic approach aimed at strengthening the leadership and governance required for a nationwide school eye health program in Uganda. The Ugandan government is committed to ensuring sustainable financing for school eye health, streamlining supply chains to improve access to eyeglasses, and expanding the health workforce to meet growing needs.
The Ministries of Health and Education are leading this effort with a clear objective: to ensure that all children, especially the most vulnerable, receive the eyeglasses they need to thrive in school.The data gathered from this assessment will not only guide resource prioritization but also inform policy development and institutional frameworks, laying the foundation for a national-scale, evidence-based school eye health initiative.
Unlocking the Future of Eye Health in Uganda
The SEHRA initiative is the first step toward creating a national strategy that can potentially transform the lives of millions of children by ensuring they have the eyeglasses they need to succeed academically and in life. By addressing the knowledge gap around eye health conditions in Ugandan children, this project sets the stage for future interventions that will lead to improved learning outcomes, enhanced well-being, and greater opportunities for Uganda’s youth.
Together with our partners—CHAI, Peek Vision, and the dedicated staff of Uganda’s Ministries of Health and Education—EYElliance is committed to making clear vision a reality for all Ugandan children.
