Heart-Heart Foundation, with the support of L’OCCITANE Korea,
has successfully completed the Integrated Primary Eye Health Strengthening Project in Dhamrai, Bangladesh.
This project provided essential eye care services to community in medically underserved areas,
enabling early detection of eye conditions and taking meaningful steps toward the prevention of avoidable blindness.
As of 2020, Bangladesh ranked 6th in the world for the number of people with visual impairments, with 16.5% of the population experiencing some form of vision loss.
However, limited infrastructure and a shortage of trained professionals have led to a continued rise in preventable vision loss.
Dhamrai, located about 2 hours from the capital city Dhaka, is an underserved area, where access to Eye care services are extremely limited.
In response to this urgent need, Heart-Heart Foundation sponsored by L’OCCITANE foundation affiliated with L’OCCITANE Korea
implemented a integrated eye health services to the community in Dhamrai.
Shall we look back on our one-year journey toward brighter vision and healthier eyes in Dhamrai?
Receiving eye care services at the vision center in a primary health care facility
The Vision Center, situated within a primary health care facility, was revitalized to strengthen the delivery of continuous eye care services.
As a result, community members of all ages—from newborns to the elderly—were able to access essential eye health services within their own community.
Provided eye check-ups to over 8,300 people in the community, along with free medicines and glasses for those who needed them.
On average, about 100 people visited the center each day—showing just how much the Dhamrai community needs and values eye care services.
Among those screened, more than half were diagnosed with refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia.
For those needing advanced treatment like cataracts or retinal diseases, we guided them to visit higher-level hospitals so they could receive the care they needed in time.
Eye nurses receiving training from a ophthalmologist
The training was held three times and covered skills like checking vision, prescribing glasses, assisting with treatment, and referring patients to higher-level hospitals when needed.
All the training materials were also compiled into a manual, so the nurses could review them anytime even after the sessions.
To check how effective the training was, the ophthalmologist who led the sessions carried out evaluations before and after the training for two nurses.
The results showed that both nurses improved in all areas, such as performing eye screenings, using ophthalmic equipment, and communicating with patients.
Process of Eye Camp at the community clinics
In addition, Eye Camps were held for residents facing mobility or financial challenges.
These camps took place at 48 community health clinics, where residents received eye screenings and, if necessary, treatment or referrals to higher-level hospitals.
Around 7,400 people participated, with an average of 155 residents attending each camp.
Those diagnosed with conditions like conjunctivitis or dry eyes received medications, while those needing glasses,
suspected of cataracts, or retinal issues were advised to visit the vision center for further examination.
This highlights the strong demand for eye care services in the community.
Eye Screenings for Children in need
As part of the World Sight Day campaign, a special Eye Camp was held for 168 vulnerable children living in facilities without guardians while continuing their education.
Out of these children, 109 received medicines, and 62 were provided with eyeglasses.
Most of the children who took part in the camp shared that it was their first time having an eye screening.
They were very happy to be able to study more comfortably after their vision improved!
Heart-Heart Foundation joined the GO-NGO campaign in Bangladesh to raise eye health awareness.
To celebrate World Sight Day, we participated in the public march with the slogan "Love Your Eyes" and took part in the GO-NGO Forum,
where we discussed Bangladesh‘s eye health strategies and policies, and explored ways for joint efforts to improve local eye health.
The Heart-Heart Foundation‘s efforts to promote eye health were featured in the local media outlet, Daily Fulki, in Bangladesh.
This coverage provided a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the project‘s activities and the importance of eye health.
Through 9 months of the project for strengthening eye health project in Dhamrai of Bangladesh, several significant achievements were made!
Local eye health personnel were trained, improving sustainability and service accessibility, ensuring equitable services for all.
Awareness of eye health spread through the GO-NGO World Sight Day campaign and local media coverage.
Efforts to prevent blindness were strengthened with early detection and treatment of cataracts, refractive errors, and retinal diseases, along with referrals to higher-level hospitals.
The Heart-Heart Foundation has been working with L‘Occitane for 8 years to promote eye health in underserved areas around the world.
The achievements of the 8-year eye health promotion project are as follows:
* Over the past 8 years (2017–2024), a total of €390,960 (approximately 580 million KRW) in support has helped reach around 572,000 people.
- Expanded the scope of eye health services from schools to communities and improved accessibility
- Extended services to vulnerable groups, including newborns to the elderly, women, people with disabilities, and unprotected children
To ensure that no one loses their vision due to treatable and preventable eye diseases,
we ask for your continued support and attention to Heart-Heart Foundation‘s journey to protect eye health!
[Heart-Heart Foundation has completed “Integrated Primary Eye Health Strengthening Project” in Dhamrai, Bangladesh, with the support of L‘OCCITANE Korea.]
