In 2001, Seva helped establish the Kilimanjaro Center for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO) in Moshi, Tanzania. KCCO is the only community ophthalmology training institution dedicated to reducing blindness in Africa.
With the help of the Seva Canada, KCCO has rapidly expanded its training programs, developed community service projects, and provided consulting and mentoring to local eye care programs throughout Africa. Seva Canada supports KCCO to strengthen eye care programs with an emphasis on outreach and community ophthalmology.
With KCCO’s help, these programs provide affordable and accessible eye care services and multi-disciplinary training opportunities for clinical and management personnel.Aravind Eye Hospital was founded in 1976, by Dr. G. Venkataswamy, a man known to many simply as Dr. V. Seva has partnered with Dr. V and Aravind from the beginning, supporting the expansion of its 11-bed hospital into the comprehensive eye care system that it is today with more than 10 hospitals and 45 primary vision centers.
In 1992, Seva used Canadian International Development Agency money to help Aravind to establish Aurolab, the first producer of high quality consumable products, at affordable prices. These products were used to revolutionize cataract surgical care in low-income countries. Aurolab has become a major producer of most eye care materials and equipment, now provided at affordable prices to over 130 countries.
Seva’s support helped establish the Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO), the first training center in Asia dedicated to the prevention of blindness. In addition to offering world class training and certificate programs in a wide range of management topics, LAICO coordinates Aravind's clinical training programs in ophthalmology and related professions.
Aravind is world renowned for its innovative service models and creative methods to share them. Seva has collaborated with Aravind in, spreading these innovations among all Seva partners.
VISION 2020 is a global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness. This joint program of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has an international membership of NGOs, professional associations, eye care institutions and corporations.
The many successes of VISION 2020 have been achieved through a unique, cross-sector collaboration, which enables public, private and non-profit interests to work together, helping people to see, all over the world.
Seva Foundation is our sister organization based in Berkeley, California. Founded in 1978, Seva Foundation is a U.S.-based charitable organization.
Seva Canada and Seva Foundation are separate and distinct organizations that raise funds in our respective countries to pursue our common mission of ending avoidable blindness. Together, we manage our three country offices in Tibet, Nepal and Cambodia, and collaboratively work with our network of international partners to deliver life-changing eye care in developing countries around the world.Visualiza
Visualiza is a leading eye hospital in Guatemala. Founded in 1997, Visualiza provides fee-for-service care for wealthier patients alongside free services for the poor. It has been refining its unique community-oriented low-cost and free service system since 2002. Although Visualiza employs only 2% of the nation’s ophthalmologists, the organization performs over 20% of all cataract surgeries in Guatemala, and is the only institution in Guatemala that provides eye care screening for children. Seva Canada works with Visualiza to provide high-quality eye care in Guatemala City, and the Peten region.
