On 23 October 2025, as part of the activities of the 11th Council of Ministers: Health, the OECS Commission, in collaboration with the Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF), hosted the official launch of the Regional Eye Health Strategic Plan Project.
The event was sponsored by the Brenda Stafford Foundation and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
The Regional Eye Health Strategic Plan Project was conceived in fulfilment of the mandate of the OECS Heads of Government to establish Centres of Excellence in healthcare, a key strategy to address the challenges of limited resources, accessibility, and equity across the region. Through this initiative, the OECS Commission, with the support of the BSF, will conduct a comprehensive fact-finding assessment to evaluate eye care needs and capacities within Member States.
The ultimate goal of the Regional Eye Health Strategic Plan Project is to develop a Regional Eye Health Strategy that is both evidence-based and aligned with national and regional priorities, guided by the World Health Organisation’s “Eye care in Health Systems: Guide for Action.” This initiative will generate robust data to support informed decision-making, leveraging epidemiological evidence to identify the most prevalent eye conditions, determine at-risk populations, and target interventions where they are most needed. This data-driven approach will strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of health interventions across the region.
The Minister for Health, Grenada, and Incoming Chair of the OECS PPS Board and Council of Ministers Honourable Philip Telesford formally endorsed the project and described its strategic plan as a “blueprint for action that will anchor our collective work in equity.” Emphasising the need to focus attention on the most vulnerable populations, the Honourable Minister highlighted the importance of shifting from fragmented service delivery to an integrated, people-centred approach that ensures every patient receives care that is accessible, dignified, and sustainable.
Sisera Simon, Head, Human and Social Division, OECS Commission, underscored the importance of the initiative in driving long-term regional health resilience. She remarked: “This strategy will serve as a clear roadmap, outlining key priorities, establishing measurable goals, and providing a common framework for action.”
Linking the initiative to the 11th Council of Ministers of Health meeting under the theme, “Healthcare Prioritisation: Strategies for Sustainable Solutions,” she further highlighted that the approach embodies a structured, results-oriented framework for improving eye health outcomes throughout the OECS.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Brenda Stafford Foundation Tony Weeks reaffirmed BSF’s commitment to advancing equitable access to quality healthcare across the region. He stated: “This milestone demonstrates what strong collaboration can achieve.” According to Weeks, the project and the partnership it brings between the OECS and the BSF, “builds on more than four decades of shared commitment to eye health in the Caribbean. Through deep engagement with more than 80 health, education, and government stakeholders, we have heard a clear message: the region is ready, willing, and determined to work together to eliminate preventable blindness.”
This collaboration with the Brenda Strafford Foundation underscores the OECS Commission’s steadfast commitment to advancing regional and international health priorities, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages and OECS Strategic Priority 5: advancing Equity and Inclusion. The Regional Eye Health Strategic Plan Project is strategically timed to ensure that its findings and recommendations will be showcased at the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health, to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2026.
The OECS Commission thanks OECS Member States, the BSF, the Internal Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, and all development partners for their commitment to advancing a healthier, more inclusive, and vision-secure future for all.
OECS
