Donna Nantege

Celebrating World Sight Day 2025.

CELEBRATING WORLD SIGHT DAY: Putting People at the Heart of Eye Health. On the second Thursday of every October, the world comes together to reflect on the importance of accessible, available, and affordable eye care for all. World Sight Day, observed annually, raises global awareness about the impact of blindness and vision impairment. The theme for the 2025 World Sight Day is “#LoveYourEyes – Putting People at the Heart of Eye Health“. This global campaign, led by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), encourages the public to prioritize their eye health by getting their sight checked regularly and promotes community involvement in sharing personal eye health stories to raise awareness and promote accessible eye care for all. PACE Uganda, in the spirit of #LoveYourEyes and in partnership with VisionSpring, shares a long-term goal of establishing sustainable, market-based access to affordable reading glasses for adults above 35 years in low-income communities across Uganda through The Reading Glasses for Improved Livelihoods (RGIL) program. The Reading Glasses for Improved Livelihoods (RGIL) program is designed to enhance functionality, productivity, and income-generating potential among adults living with near vision loss from presbyopia. Expanding Access to Affordable Vision Care:In the year 2024/2025, PACE, in partnership with VisionSpring, continued its efforts to make quality vision care accessible and affordable for communities. Through 129 eye camps held in markets, churches, and other community settings, the team screened 3,606 individuals, sold 1,408 pairs of reading glasses at subsidized prices, and referred 1,508 clients to higher-level health facilities for specialized care.To strengthen service delivery, PACE staff were trained to enhance their capacity in screening for presbyopia. The initiative was implemented across the districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Kayunga, Kiboga, Luwero, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola. Join the Movement!

THE BREAKING THE CYCLE PROJECT.

Uncategorized / By Donna Nantege

Teenage pregnancy remains a critical public health and development concern in Uganda, particularly in the Northern Region. Despite various national efforts, significant policy and system-level barriers persist in existing sexuality education programs in Uganda’s schools and health systems.Furthermore, gender norms, stigma, and limited paternal engagement continue to restrict open discussions between adolescents and other stakeholders on issues related to sexuality, reproductive health, and relationships. Breaking the Cycle was designed in response to these challenges. Breaking the Cycle: Prevention and Response to Teenage Pregnancy in Acholi Sub-region is a bold, multi-dimensional intervention designed to address teenage pregnancy and associated vulnerabilities in Northern Uganda. Led by PACE, in partnership with HANDLE Uganda, this transformative three-year initiative will be implemented in Gulu and Omoro districts, which report some of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy, poverty, and gender-based violence in the country.PACE and its partners aim not only to reduce teenage pregnancy but to catalyze a paradigm shift, one where adolescent girls are protected, educated, and empowered to pursue their full potential in an enabling and inclusive environment. The project focuses on two main objectives:1. Increasing access to essential Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services for teenage girls, boys, and young mothers by enhancing community awareness and bolstering support structures. 2. Supporting the successful reintegration of adolescent girls into both mainstream education and alternative education pathways through tailored academic support, mentorship, and vocational training, alongside livelihood initiatives such as backyard gardening, entrepreneurship, and the formation of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), empowering girls and young mothers to access essential resources and build sustainable incomes. The project targets to reach over 330,000 vulnerable adolescent girls, women, youth and persons with disabilities, support 20,0000 individuals including women, adolescents (13-19) affected by child abuse, early marriage, poverty, exclusion, illness, GBV and teenage pregnancy and 2000 community structures including leaders, care givers, teachers, health workers, legal and psychosocial volunteers, police, grassroots CSOS, and SRHR service providers. These partnerships will help create safe, inclusive, and supportive environments where adolescents can thrive and will be essential for achieving the goals of the Breaking the Cycle project.