At EYElliance, we are proud to share the findings of a recent evaluation of Liberia’s School Eye Health (SEH) program. This evaluation sought to assess EYElliance’s model of support to the Government of Liberia (GoL) in advancing an integrated and sustainable SEH program.
A government-led school eye health program integrates vision care into the education and health systems, providing students with regular vision screenings, access to free glasses, and referral to more specialized treatment when needed. These programs are run by national governments, often with support from partners, to ensure children can see clearly and thrive in school and later in adult life.
DOWNLOAD A SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION REPORT HERE
Since 2017, our partnership with the Liberian government and key stakeholders has aimed to integrate eye health services into the national education and health systems. This evaluation highlights the program’s transformative impact, identifying successes, challenges, and opportunities for long-term sustainability.
Key Findings from the Evaluation
- Impact on Access and Well-being
Over two-thirds of surveyed students had experienced eye problems before the SEH program, yet only 31% had sought care due to financial and accessibility barriers. The program has drastically improved access to eye screenings and glasses, with 91% of participants reporting better access to services and 81% finding school-based screenings convenient. Respondents reported that glasses provided through the program have significantly enhanced learning, reduced school dropouts, and alleviated financial burdens on families. - Increased Awareness of Eye Health
Prior to the program, 91% of respondents had little to no knowledge about eye health. Post-intervention, 95% reported increased awareness, and 94% recognized eye health as “very important.” This change underscores the program's role in educating communities about the importance of vision care. - Satisfaction with Services
With 93% of respondents voicing strong support for school-based eye health services and 90% expressing satisfaction with the program, the initiative has been widely embraced. However, areas like referral follow-ups and reducing waiting times need further attention. - Sustainability and Expansion Potential
The evaluation affirms that Liberia’s SEH program is a model for integrating health and education sectors. Further recommendations include embedding annual eye screenings into school curricula, expanding services, and allocating funding through the national education budget.
EYElliance’s Support
EYElliance’s contributions included convening a consortium of eye health NGOs to provide technical assistance to the GoL, facilitating the development of an MoU between the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Health (MoH), and NGOs, and promoting a government-led approach that prioritized Ministry leadership, management, and integration into existing systems.
Additionally, EYElliance supported the establishment of the SEH Technical Working Group (TWG), crafted a national SEH program framework based on best practices, and spearheaded advocacy efforts to secure global resources for implementation. The organization also provided technical assistance and seed funding to enable SEH rollout in Montserrado, Margibi, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Lofa counties. Policy and advocacy efforts further reinforced SEH inclusion in foundational documents like the Education Sector Plan, National School Health Policy, and Liberia’s Global Partnership for Education Compact.
Through these efforts, EYElliance has played a pivotal role in advancing a scalable, government-led SEH model in Liberia.
Research Methods
The evaluation employed a mixed-methods approach to gather comprehensive insights into Liberia's government-led school vision care initiative. Data collection included a desk review, 100 semi-structured interviews, 32 key informant interviews, and 17 focus group discussions. A purposive sample targeted diverse stakeholders, including funders, government representatives at the national and county levels, principals, teachers, PTA chairs, parents, and students.
Fieldwork was conducted in four counties supported by the program—Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Montserrado, and Margibi. Quantitative data focused on stakeholders’ knowledge, experiences, and feedback related to the program’s services, while qualitative data explored the roles, perceptions, outcomes, and sustainability recommendations from key government and community actors.
Findings were triangulated to assess how EYElliance’s support contributed to scaling, institutionalizing, and sustaining Liberia’s school-based vision care.
Evolution of School Eye Health in Liberia
The evolution of School Eye Health in Liberia highlights a collaborative journey of government-led initiatives and partnerships with local and global stakeholders to address the critical need for vision screening and eyeglasses provision for schoolchildren. Beginning in 2002, Sightsavers, in partnership with the Liberian government, developed an early integrated school health model in collaboration with global organizations such as the Partnership for Child Development, the Global Partnership for Education, and the World Bank.
This foundation was strengthened in 2017 when EYElliance supported the Ministry of Education (MoE) in convening the SEH Technical Working Group (TWG) and drafting a national scale-up plan. Over the following years, initiatives like SightSavers’ School Health Integrated Program (SHIP) and new government-led SEH pilots were harmonized under this framework. Key achievements include the launch of a MoE-led 50-school pilot in Montserrado County, continued SightSavers-supported SEH activities in counties such as Bong and Grand Kru, and subsequent scale-up efforts supported by partners like LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) and EYElliance.
By 2023, SEH implementation expanded to counties such as Lofa and select districts in Nimba, while a stakeholder-driven sustainability plan was initiated to ensure long-term integration and reach. Despite these advancements, efforts remain underway to expand SEH into the five yet-to-be-reached counties, further strengthening Liberia's commitment to national SEH coverage.
EYElliance’s collaborative, government-led approach has proven effective, and we are committed to supporting Liberia’s efforts to ensure every child can see clearly and thrive academically.
