Standard Chartered will raise $100 million by 2020 to build sustainable eye-care services across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, almost trebling its fundraising for the prevention of blindness from 2003 to date.

Standard Chartered made the announcement today (September 21) at the 2011Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York.

With nearly 90 per cent of avoidable blindness occurring in the developing world, the issue affects economic productivity in countries where Standard Chartered operates. Through its latest commitment, the bank aims to support further progress towards eliminating avoidable blindness by 2020, it said.

The bank will fundraise through Seeing is Believing, its global initiative with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and leading international eye-care NGOs.

The bank not only promotes and coordinates fundraising for the programme, but also matches every dollar raised. Since 2003, the Bank has raised $37 million, leaving a further $63 million needed by 2020.

Around 80 per cent of blindness can be treated or prevented, and the interventions are some of the most cost-effective in health-care; a cataract operation costs on average $30, Vitamin A treatment around $1.

With the $63 million funding, leading international eye-care NGOs have agreed to deliver 35 comprehensive eye-care projects globally, providing access to cataract operations and preventative treatments in deprived communities.

Five projects, valued at $5 million each, will focus exclusively on providing eye-care for children, supporting existing health care services, and building capacity for new services across seven countries.

The remaining 30 projects, valued at $1 million each, will respond to local needs, by raising awareness of eye-care issues, providing eye-care screenings or carrying out surgeries, across 20 countries.

“It is in our power to eliminate 80 per cent of blindness. However, 39 million people around the world remain blind. Helping individuals to see again transforms not just their own lives but also the lives of all those around them,” said Richard Meddings, Group finance director at Standard Chartered and chairman of Seeing is Believing.

“Restoring someone’s sight gives them economic independence and frees them from a life of dependence. Standard Chartered, through Seeing is Believing, is committed to continuing the fight against avoidable blindness.  By 2020, we intend to raise a further $63 million to further extend access to eye-care to many more people across our footprint in Asia, Africa and the Middle East," he added.

Staff engagement will continue to be an essential part of Seeing is Believing. Standard Chartered’s 85,000 employees are a key driver of the programme, having built a strong fundraising momentum since the programme began in 2003.

Many employees use their paid volunteering leave to fundraise or to support eye-care NGOs by raising awareness of eye-care issues in local communities - reinforcing the Bank’s ‘Here for good’ brand promise.

Seeing is Believing has provided access to eye-care services to more than 25 million people since it launched in 2003.

It has helped fund more than 2.7 million eye surgeries, training for more than 58,000 health care workers, 3.4 million eye-care screenings and the distribution of 126,000 pairs of eye glasses across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Through the initiative, NGOs have established 62 vision centres in India, a pioneering model of community eye-care which is being rolled out to other countries. – TradeArabia News Service