OSN Foundation
Founded
July 18, 2005
the OSN Foundation is an initiative of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria in partnership with industry, private sector, communities and the public at large to preserve and restore vision for people throughout Nigeria.
In 2002, more than 161 million people in the world were visually impaired of whom 124 million people had low vision and 37 million were blind.
The figures for Nigeria are not known but from extrapolation about 1.2 million people are blind and about 4.08 million have low vision. It is hoped that more complete country data will emerge from the just commenced Nigerian survey, but given current estimates, the number of blind and low vision persons will almost double by the year 2020 unless concerted action is taken.
Most visual loss is avoidable with current knowledge and technology. The Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria has designed the Strategic Plan to Preserve and Restore Vision – VISION FOR THE FUTURE-NIGERIA, to encourage, enhance and coordinate activities of ophthalmologists, other eye-care providers, physicians, health specialists and societal leaders in a sustained programme to decrease the toll of blindness and low vision throughout Nigeria.
There is no other time in the history of human civilization when the wellbeing of each individual is inextricably linked to that of every other. With the stark reality of increasing vision impairment and blindness in Nigeria, programmes to preserve and restore vision deserve concerted attention. All well-meaning people must join hands to achieve the goal of VISION 2020 – THE RIGHT TO SIGHT.
This is even more compelling in Nigeria where everything is left for the government, and it is obvious that the government works best when all hands are on deck. Thus, the OSN Foundation is a unique initiative of bringing together all stakeholders to promote the best possible vision for every person in Nigeria.
The OSN Foundation, is established by the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN), in partnership with members from industry, the private sector, communities and the public at large to Direct Coordinate and Mobilize support for the implementation of the activities of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria’s Strategic Plan to Preserve and Restore Vision – VISION FOR THE FUTURE-NIGERIA.
The central purpose of VISION FOR THE FUTURE-NIGERIA is to eliminate the blindness and low vision that result from preventable or treatable eye disease for people throughout Nigeria.
OSN Foundation will work to promote access to high-quality, affordable eye care and to promote access by ophthalmologists and others to the training and continuing education they need to provide appropriate eye care to people throughout Nigeria in line with the objectives of VISION FOR THE FUTURE-NIGERIA.
The OSN FOUNDATION will work to:
1. Support activities for preservation and restoration of vision for people throughout Nigeria as laid out in the OSN Strategic Plan, Vision for the Future-Nigeria.
2. Advance the science of ophthalmology and vision.
3. Support ophthalmological education and training.
4. Improve the quality and relevance of Ophthalmological training in Nigeria.
5. Advocate quality eye care.
6. Promote advocacy for preservation of vision.
7. Promote research in Ophthalmology and vision.
8. Cooperate with other local and international bodies with similar objectives to achieve these goals.
The OSN Foundation will ensure support and active participation by all stakeholders in the World Health Organization/International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (WHO/IAPB) Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness – Vision 2020: The Right to Sight
Donations are cumulative. That is, donors will have the opportunity of moving from a lower category to a higher one by giving the difference at any time later.