Advancing Eye Care from Clinics to Communities
In April 2025, Sight Relief proudly hosted Dr. Andrew Blaikie, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Global Eye Health Lead at the University of St Andrews, for a landmark visit to Pakistan. His time in the country marked the official launch of a 6-month pilot study in Haripur District, while also advancing national capacity through field-based training and academic collaboration.
From rural health centres to mass outreach camps and university classrooms, Dr. Blaikie’s visit was a transformative step forward in Sight Relief’s mission to bring sustainable, community-based eye care to underserved populations.
One-Day Launch Training in Haripur
On April 19th, the pilot study officially began with a one-day intensive training led by Dr. Blaikie for 33 frontline health workers from BHUs and RHCs across Haripur. Participants were trained in:
- Eye screening using the Arclight device
- Diagnosis and basic management of common eye conditions
- Referral procedures aligned with WHO guidelines
Each health worker received their own Arclight device and ATOM cards to support ongoing service delivery at their health facility.
Train-the-Trainer Sessions: Building Local Capacity
To ensure sustainability, Dr. Blaikie conducted train-the-trainer workshops with the Sight Relief core team, enabling them to continue the training cascade. This approach will ensure all 100 targeted health workers are trained by the end of the project period—creating a robust local workforce for eye care delivery in Haripur.
Field-Based Training During Mass Eye Screening Camp
A highlight of the visit was a mass eye screening camp held in partnership with the local health system, where over 500 patients were screened in a single day.
Dr. Blaikie worked alongside medical officers and primary health staff, delivering hands-on clinical training in the field using real patients. This practical experience helped reinforce diagnostic skills and clinical judgement under real-world conditions.
“Field-based learning is the most powerful way to build confidence and competence. We were able to teach, diagnose, and treat hundreds of patients in a single day.” — Dr. Andrew Blaikie
Health System Collaboration: DHO & PICO
Dr. Blaikie met with the District Health Officer (DHO) Haripur to align on access to facilities, data-sharing, and long-term integration of eye care services. A key outcome was local endorsement of the pilot and support for WHO ECSAT implementation across the district.
He also engaged with the Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology (PICO) to explore collaboration on eye health system strengthening and capacity building across KP province.
Academic Outreach in Lahore
Extending his impact nationally, Dr. Blaikie travelled to Lahore, where he delivered Arclight workshops for optometry students at King Edward Medical University. Students were introduced to the Arclight’s role in low-resource diagnostics and encouraged to contribute to Pakistan’s growing eye care workforce.
A Vision for Scalable, Sustainable Eye Care
Dr. Blaikie’s visit helped launch more than a pilot project—it seeded a sustainable eye care ecosystem driven by local health workers, supported by evidence, and aligned with WHO’s people-centred eye care model.
What’s Next?
Sight Relief is now working to:
- Train the remaining 67 health workers in Haripur
- Complete ECSAT assessments in partnership with DHO Haripur
- Monitor and evaluate patient outcomes and referral patterns
- Expand its model to other districts and provinces in need
We are proud to share this progress and thank Dr. Blaikie for his vital contribution to our mission. The road to eliminating avoidable blindness in Pakistan is long, but with partners like him, it is now far clearer.
