HODVIC Phase I

Phase I of the Holistic Development Programme for Visually Impaired Children up to 6 years old in Ghana or “HODVIC” started in 2018. It was due to end by December 2021, but was extended till 31 March 2022, to give it a chance to catch up for implementation delays that occurred because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The key focus of Phase I was Early Childhood Development of Ghanaian children from 0-6 years, which includes orientation & mobility, awareness, screening, assessment & referral and education. It was implemented in 7 districts in various regions. All these district had special educational services for Children with Vision Impairment in place. The programme was guided by a Theory of Change, which focussed on empowerment of CwVI and their parent/caregivers, establishment of quality services for education, eye health and social protection, and accessibility and affordability of service delivery for persons with a vision impairment.

Although Phase I achieved many tangible result, particularly in the area of quality service provision, much work still remains to be done to raise awareness in communities and society at large about issues relating to vision impairment. The environment in which CwVI grow up is often not very conducive and full of stigma, taboo and discriminatory practices. Often the children themselves lack self-confidence and self-esteem and do not have a voice to speak out for themselves. In addition, Government, despite many good intentions, often fails to deliver the services needed and promised by CwVI and falls short in implementation of existing policies and legislation. And, last but not least, CwVI often do not receive the care they need in their families, due to lack of knowledge, but also because of stigma, taboo and fear of exclusion.

HODVIC Phase II

Phase II will build on the results achieved in Phase I but make some changes to address the key issues identified above. Phase II will:

HODVIC phase II, will intervene in the same 7 districts of Phase I. The envisaged interventions will target:

1. The schools for the blind to strengthen (inclusive) schooling facilities nearby, in order to increase their capacity to bring equal education to CwVI
2. Eye Health services to improve the quality of screening and assessment
3. Social services in communities to create a conducive environment for inclusion of CwVI in society by raising awareness amongst government, communities, parents, and empower CwVI.
4. CSOs to reach out to communities, to create awareness and to lobby for policies and legislation that favour the inclusion of PWD in society and their implementation.
5. Parents and caregivers to ensure that CwVI can develop according to their full potential and participate in society
6. CwVI themselves will be targeted to:
   • Strengthen their self-esteem, self-confidence and self- reliance, and receive assistance to organise themselves and develop a strong voice in society to promote the need for an inclusive society. 
   • Have better access to enhanced quality of care.
   • Benefit from greater awareness and enhanced knowledge about VI amongst families, their parents, sisters, brothers. The programme will instil knowledge and awareness in families about causes and consequences of vision impairment as well as providing guidance for helping their VI family members to make full use of the potential they have, and increase access to services available
   • Benefit from a more VI friendly environment in communities, by working on stigma and taboos, and provision of information and sharing of knowledge about vision impairment
   • Benefit from strengthened legal and policy frameworks for increased access and affordability of quality VI service provision and implementation of international conventions for inclusion of children with disabilities in society, such as CRC and CRPD (Both ratified by Ghana)

HODVIC Phase II is due to run from April 2022 to December 2024. As in Phase I, it will be hosted by the Presbyterian Health Service of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, a well-established agent in development with an impeccable reputation.