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Published 24 years ago
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Nepal Blindness Programme

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A social marketing campaign based on radio, newspapers, and traditional media which was used to promote eye-surgery at eye-centres and camps in order to support blindness prevention. The key to the Nepal Blindness Programme's success lies in the mix of attractive social marketing packaging and of traditional communication channels. The main issue addressed was the problem of blindness caused by cataracts and trauchoma and the prevention of blindness through Vitamin A.
Communication Strategies

Radio spots and a drama were combined with newspaper articles and traditional media such as loudspeaker announcements at weekly markets, religious fairs and festivals, street banners, flyers, cataract information, posters, stickers, and advertisements in local cinema halls. 102 eye camps were conducted in the first year, 96 of these were publicised by outreach co-ordinators, as well as on radio and in local newspapers, posters, and handbills.

Development Issues

Blindness, trauchoma, nutrition, cataracts.

Key Points

The radio spots used the voices of respected leaders such as priests, doctors, and traditional healers on the prevention and treatment of eye diseases.

Partners

Nepal Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), Nepali NGO: Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) (Nepal Society for Comprehensive Eye Care) in partnership with the Seva Foundation Blindness Prevention Action - an NGO - and Dutch Foundation Eye Care Himalaya.

Sources

Mary Myers Summary of the Nepal Blindness Programme 1998 also: 1) Erpelding, A. and Marseille, E. 1993 "From Darkness to Light The Health Education Campaign of the Nepal Blindness Programme" in Community Eye Health Vol. 6, No. 12, 1993. 2) Personal Communication from Suzanne Gilbert of the Seva Foundation.