Skip to content

Karen Sparrow Training and Education Fund Boosts Vision Action’s Efforts in Eye Care

Vision Action is pleased to share the significant support received from the Karen Sparrow Training and Education Fund, aiding its mission to enhance optometry services across multiple countries.

During her many years of outstanding volunteering, Karen’s efforts were instrumental in mobilizing and inspiring our volunteers, particularly those new to global eye health. The design and update of Vision Action’s optometry training materials was meticulously developed by professional volunteers and overseen by Karen during the lockdown and beyond.

Vision Action successfully secured additional funding to deliver Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in Optometry, enabling the organisation to execute its planned projects with combined support from Karen’s fund and Optometry Giving Sight (OGS).

The joint funding facilitated a range of crucial activities, including:

Training of Trainer in Low Vision Course: A Training of Trainers course in Low Vision at KNUST University, Ghana, supporting a new Low Vision Unit soon to be established there. Course participants included both members of the faculty and community Optometrists to help build capacity of low vision services in Ghana.

Equipment Maintenance and Training: Refresher training in equipment maintenance, stock management, glazing, and dispensing at Vision Centres in Zambia.

Remote CPD Sessions: Development of accredited remote CPD sessions in collaboration with the Ghana Optometry Association. These materials will eventually be utilized across all the countries Vision Action operates in.

Community Eye Health Sensitisation: Supporting optometry associations in Zambia, Ghana, and Ethiopia in raising community awareness about eye health through events like World Sight Day and World Optometry Day.

Strengthening Optometry Associations: Providing additional support to optometry associations in Ethiopia and Ghana to enhance their capacity and member support.

The volunteer programme plays a pivotal role in these efforts, with volunteers who have previously collaborated with Karen Sparrow and Vision Action contributing significantly. Karen’s legacy lives on through the design of the training materials she helped develop and the many volunteers she trained.

Reflecting on Karen Sparrow’s contributions, her family stated:

“Improved eye care for all was central to so much of Karen’s life. As an optometrist by profession, she was passionate about supporting others and equipping them with the tools to flourish in their careers. Her years of volunteering with Vision Action were a natural extension of this passion. We are delighted, as she would be too, that her life’s work continues through Vision Action.”

Karen Sparrow’s dedication to improving eye care services has left an enduring impact, and Vision Action is proud to honour her legacy by continuing her work and expanding its reach in providing essential eye care services to communities in need.