ENTEBBE CONVENTION REMINDER BY LION MANISH CHAVDA - 30 DAYS TO GO!!

My Dear Lion Leaders,

Greetings to you all from the District secretariat Arusha; First and foremost I am thankful to all those clubs who have managed to clear their outstanding at the International and District in terms of Dues,

Secondly I would like to request all those clubs who have NOT TILL DATE cleared their dues to PLEASE clear them at their earliest, as I had mentioned in my earlier e-mails that our district runs on the dues that have been submitted timely, 

Thirdly I would once more request all clubs to start sending their names for registration or register online, at this point I would also request club presidents to send my office the number of already registered lions from your respective clubs and send the copy to the respective Zone and region officers,  please do this at your earliest possibly by this month end,

For Lions traveling from Dar-es-salaam please send your information to both the Zone chairpersons and the Region Chairperson, I have appointed Lion Hyderali Gangji RC as the coordinator for looking into the Air travel arrangements form Dar, and Lion Habil Khanbhai to assist the clubs in his region for the same,

Lions of Uganda, I request you to please send all the information to your respective Region and Zone Officers and a copy yo my office, and plan to attend this convention in Big numbers,

let us make this convention the BIGGEST FAMILY REUNION EVER IN THE HISTORY OF LIONISM IN MD-411, we will once again get the opportunity to meet all our Lion LEADERS, PID Lion Manoj Shah,ID Lion Krishna Reddy from India, our very own MCC Lion Shem,PMCC Lion Majid Khan, and other PDGs and VDGs from both the sub districts,

Lions to add icing on the cake, the organizing committee has organized a FOUR hour boat cruse in the beautiful lake of Victoria for the First 80 Lions at the following rates, USH 70,000/, KSH 2500/,TZS 40000/, USD 30.

Thanking you for your continuous support and please keep the membership numbers growing as we are still lagging behind by 230 members, look into family membership and club presidents start creating family units so as to increase membership in your clubs,

wishing you all a great and safe weekend,

Yours Friendly in Lionism,

Lion Manish Chavda,

CS,

D-411-B

WATERMELONS & HYPERTENSION

It is very important to note that you can lower hypertension using watermelons. Hypertension is blamed for half of all heart attacks and strokes in the UK.

According to a recent study in Florida, natural compounds in this fruit dilate blood vessels so the heart does not have to work so hard pumping blood around the body.

Study's volunteers who took a pill containing the chemicals every day for 6 weeks saw significant improvements compared to others who took a dummy pill.

http://intermanews.com/pages/news/food-diet/Watermelons-are-helpful-to-lower-High-Blood-Pressure-448

HOST CLUB CELEBRATE CLUBS 49TH CHARTER ANNIVERSARY

Members of Lion Club of Dar es Salaam Host had a warm privilege of celebrating their 49th Charter Anniversary at Arizona Restaurant on 23rd of March 2012. Lion Yusuf Dalal pointed out Clubs' glorious past and it's diligent members who safely pivoted them into a dynamic club. 

During the occasion, a grand fellowship dinner in honour of Past District Governors in recognition for the services to the cause of Lionism in District 411 was also observed. 

The evening also saw celebrations to mark Ladies and Past president nites. 

MZIZIMA TO CONTINUE WITH MISSION OCEAN ROAD HOSPITAL - NOT APRIL FOOL

Dear Lions and friends,

Please be informed that the coming Sunday on April 1st after fooling all the rest of the world(April fools day),let us not fool ourselves and participate in another activity of food distribution to the needy at the Ocean rd hospital of a similar nature to all the previous activities.

It would be wonderful to see  members who had not participated earlier.

On behalf of Mzizima I take this opportunity to also invite Lion leaders and members of other clubs if time permits, since the activity takes only 2 hours commencing from 11.30 to 1.30 lunch time.

warm regards

Lion Mustafa Kudrati,

sec- Mzizima

AND THE PICTURES FOLLOWED

MZIZIMA CLUB PROVIDES FOOD AT DAR OCEAN ROAD HOSPITAL ON 25TH MARCH

Lions Club of Dar es Salaam Mzizima carried out an activity at  Ocean Road Hospital on Sunday, 25th March 2012. Several Lion members of the club carried out food distribution to about hundred patients suffering from cancer and aids. They were provided with warm food prepared and served by the Lions and Lion hearted volunteers.

The patients were very grateful as most of them come from a distance and hardly had any relatives to cater for their daily needs. The seriousness of their plight has caught the attention of the members and it was wonderful to note that several members had come forward to donate for the worthy cause.

A patient from Iringa suffering from advanced cancer, who was told to return home had no fare and expenses to at least spend his final days with his family, was assisted to travel back home by Mzizima Lions.

The activity cost TShs450,000.00 

At a second activity, a patient namely Mr Kuba suffering from severe eye impairment was sponsored by Mzizima Club to be operated at the CCBRT. It was satisfying to note that the surgery was successful.

The cost of the surgery was TShs 250,000.

Report prepared by Mustafa Kudrati

START REGISTERING FOR THE CONVENTION WE ONLY HAVE 40 DAYS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greetings Fellow Lions.

Please start registering for the Convention.

I am personally looking forward to meet you all at this convention, lets make it the biggest happiest Lions Family reunion ever.

wishing you all a wonderful day,

Yours Friendly in Lionism,

Lion Manish Chavda,

CS,

D-411-B.

Lions Quest Expands in Africa

Lions Quest has expanded to five countries in Africa with a US$150,000 grant from the U.S. State Department. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Botswana. Each has begun Lions Quest training workshops from March 2012 to train up to 1,000 teachers -  to provide positive life skills and a safe learning environment for up to 35,000 students. Lions are training 2 Lions Quest trainers per country, aiding the expansion of Lions Quest in these countries.

PWANI CLUB CARRIES OUT HEALTH CAMP AT VIKAWE, KIBAHA DISTRICT

IGOGWE PRIMARTY SCHOOL BENEFITS FROM MWANZA VALENTINES INITIATIVE

Mwanza Valentines carried out face lift of classrooms at Igogwe Primary School. The work involved flooring, roof work and joinery. 6 Lions participated and spent 90 hours to carry oyr refurbishment that cost 500,000TShs. Picture left is before while the one on right is after - as one can note smiles on the faces of the pupils.

LION MALIK AWAN OF AMANI CLUB SHARES HIS SEATTLE CONVENTION PICTURES

New exciting LCI advertising campaign for Africa!

LCI has recently launched a new "billboard" style advertising campaign which, with a few tweaks to suit local conditions, will probably be used throughout Africa. The same themes will be available soon in French and likely be followed in Arabic. 

If you or your Lions have any catchy phrases like the "A Continent of Volunteers. A World of Service" that might reflect the essence of what we as Lions do then please let me know and maybe they will be able to be incorporated by the PRO department in the planned updates that will follow. 

Best regards to you all. 

YIL,
Rob Fowler
Member : Africa Lions Steering Committee

DISTRICT 411B WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM MEETS SUCCESS

Women and Development Symposium held on Saturday, 17th March 2012 at Blue Pearl Hotel, Dar es Salaam attracted 109 women from different background. This was the first time that Lions of District 411B, under the District Committee for Women Membership Development and Participation, organised such an extraordinary programme meant to sensitise Dar Women on touching issues.

This Symposium has been consistent with Lions Clubs Internationals’ and the United Nations’ pact of cooperation noted in the 8 Millennium Development Goals – the most aspiring being “to promote gender equality and empower women at all levels by 2015.”

The Chairperson for Women Membership Development and Participation, Lion Nimira mentioned at the outset that the Symposium was meant to talk about and remind each other of the importance of women in our society, an opportunity to hear eminent speakers who will present papers on, problems of street children, promoting women in the world, nutrition towards healthy motherhood, violence against women, legal rights of women, and women’s role in Lionism, in short and in nutshell, to discover why women determine the fate of the planet earth.

The Symposium was opened by Honourable Ummi Mwalimu (MP), Deputy Minister for Women Development, Gender and Children. She expressed her appreciations to Lions for organising such a Symposium that was planned to raise awareness on women rights, street children problems and motherhood. “The current problem of increase in street children on our streets was being looked at by the Government so that a community strategy for combating the issue results,” she said. Hon. Mwalimu added that nearly 3 in 10 street children had experienced sexual violence before reaching 18 years of age and 50% of them were victims of emotional stress while 39% were victims of violence. Symposiums like this generate awareness so that a concerted effort to stop injustices results.

During the event, the District Governor Lion Satish Sharma echoed his appreciations to the organisers and mentioned on the hard work that managed delivery of a rated Women and Development Symposium. He mentioned that Lions were in the forefront to integrate more women in their organisation so that they could be able to resolve their pressing issues. We need a diversity of people of all genders, all age groups and all cultures. Admirably, he mentioned, “Women are participating and acting in responsible positions at all levels of our societies.”

“UN are focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment not only as human rights, but also because they are a pathway to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development,” he said

The Symposium was attended by Lion Leaders and District Officers including PMCC/PDG Lion Safder Jaffer, 2^ndVDG Lion Wilson Ndesanjo, Cabinet Treasurer Lion Mohamed Lalji, RC Lion Hyder Gangji, ZC Lion Babul, ZC Lion Zahira Patwa and District Convenor Lion Anne Tumwine.

Tanzania has only 23 Eye Specialists

As blindness continues to afflict many people in the country, especially in Dodoma Region, the Minister for Health and Social Welfare Dr Haji Mponda has said Tanzania has only 23 eye specialists.

Worse still 21 of these are stationed in Dar es Salaam while the remaining two are posted to Lindi and Ruvuma, leaving the remaining regions, including the most affected, Dodoma, with no eye specialists.

Launching the second Phase of Vision to Sights Strategic Plan in Dar es Salaam, over the weekend, the minister said the imbalance is due to the fact that most hospitals are based in the city. The minister said late admission of patients to health facilities, lack of qualified expertise, medicine and equipment are among factors that increase the cases of blindness in the country.

He said there are more than 1.35 million people with visual impairments and 150,000 people are blind. “We have 80 percent shortage of eye specialists in all government hospitals and 77 percent of eye specialist assistants; this problem contributes to the rise of blindness in the country.”

Mponda said under the strategic plan his ministry will make sure it is providing all required materials and services to make sure that it achieves World Health Organisation (WHO) vision of minimising blindness cases by 2020. He added that the government would keep on sensitising communities on blindness so that the people are able to go to the hospital at the early stages.

"It is important we prevent blindness from increasing, so in this regard the government is in the process of implementing all the points in this strategic plan,” he said.

The ministry is also strengthening the country's capacity to handle cases of blindness through training of more ophthalmology as well as other professional health staff,” the minister said. WHO country representative Rufalo Chatola said blindness is one of the causes of poverty in many countries.

He asked Tanzania government to make sure blindness is eradicated in the country by the year 2020. 

At the same function, Secretary General of Dar es Salaam Lions Club of Mzizima Mustafa Kudrati said his organisation is committed to end eye problems in the country, adding that it has been providing eye care countrywide .

He said last year his club provided eye care to students in Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Morogoro and Ruvuma regions.

“We conducted screening exercise in Lindi which helped us identify more than 70 mature cataracts and 12 minor surgeries, and we also work with CCBRT to provide cataracts surgeries,” he said.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY

REMINDER ON SYMPOSIUM ON WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT FOR WOMEN ON 17TH MARCH 2012

The Symposium will be attended by the Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Hon. Umi Mwalimu (MP), District Governor Lion Satish Sharma, Vice District Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo, District Convenor Lion Ann Tumwine from Uganda and spouses of Ministers and Ambassadors in Tanzania an other dignitaries and invited members from the public.
The Topics:

1.      TOPIC 1 BY DR. SALHA KASSIM: STREET CHILDREN PROBLEMS IN TANZANIA.

2.      TOPIC 2 MS YVONNE MAFUNGA: PROMOTING WOMEN IN THE WORLD

3.      TOPIC 3 MRS ANNE TUMWINE: WOMEN’S ROLE IN LIONISM 

4.      TOPIC 4 MS MAGDALENA RWEBANGIRA: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN OUR SOCIETY

5.      TOPIC 5 MS MARIE MANGENYA: LEGAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN

6.      TOPIC 6 MS ANA JOHN: PROPER NUTRITION TOWARDS HEALTHY MOTHERHOOD

LAUNCHING OF NATIONAL EYE CARE AT MNAZIMMOJA GROUNDS ON 13TH MARCH

The launch of the National Eye Care today took place on 13th March 2012 at the 

Mnazimmoja Grounds.

The event was well attended by all the partners in eye care including the Sight Savers,CCBRT, Tanzania Blind Association, CBM, and Lions. 

Lion Shanti Shah, the District Convenor for Sight First and Lion Mustafa Kudrati represented the Lions of District 411B.
ZC Lion Babul visited the site briefly as well.

The Minister for Health presided over the exhibition where some of thestalls displayed material relevant to eye care in the country.

The Minister thanked all the stake holders and requested for concerted effort that would result in the prevention blindness.

There were a score of visitors who were educated about Lions Club of Dsm- Mzizimas activities during the past years and the program set for the coming years.

Report by Lion Mustafa Kudrati

International Overview - Lions Quest Around the World

Lions Quest is a life skills and prevention program of the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF.) (countries in orange have one or more Lions Quest programs). Lions Quest programs teach young people skills necessary for everyday success. These skills include:

• Learning to accept responsibility
• Communicating effectively
• Setting goals
• Making healthy decisions
• Resisting pressure to use alcohol and drugs

Lions Quest is implemented in over 50 countries and curriculum materials have been translated into 30 languages, making it one of the most widely used life skills and prevention programs in the world. To date over 420,000 educators have been certified to implement Lions Quest, and nearly 12 million young people have benefited from the program.

RECENT GRANTS - FEBRUARY 2012

Emergency Grants Approved February 16-29, 2012: 5 Grants Approved, Totalling US$50,000

Bolivia, District S-1

US$10,000 for flood relief

Brazil, District LA-2

US$10,000 for flood relief

Ecuador, District G-1

US$10,000 for flood relief

Italy, District 108-A

US$10,000 for snowstorm relief

Malawi, District 412

US$10,000 for flood relief

Grants Approved at the January Lions Quest Advisory Committee Meeting: 10 Grants Approved Totaling US$382,345

Burkina Faso, District 403-A1 — The Lions of District 403-A-1 were awarded US$26,935 to introduce Lions Quest in four schools in the capital city. The grant will cover the translation of curriculum, promotion of Lions Quest to the community and training 20 to 25 teachers to implement the program in schools.

Guatemala, District D-3 — The Lions of District D-3 in Guatemala were awarded a US$15,000 grant to begin piloting Lions Quest, making this the first time that Lions Quest will be implemented in Guatemala. Lions will train 36 teachers through two workshops and the curriculum will be used in five schools. Around 1,438 students will be impacted.

Japan, District 332-D — The Lions of District 332-D were awarded US$25,000 to hold three Lions Quest workshops, training 75 teachers and benefiting 800 students. They will also hold two seminars and a follow-up workshop. The district will focus on establishing one model school, where all classes and grade levels will teach Lions Quest principles. The expansion of Lions Quest in this district is taking place in the Fukushima region, a hard hit area following the earthquake and tsunami last year.

Japan, District 336-C — The Lions of District 336-C were awarded US$25,000 to hold four Lions Quest workshops, training 100 teachers and benefiting 1,089 students. They will also hold two seminars. The district will focus on establishing three model schools, where all classes and grade levels will teach Lions Quest principles. The expansion of Lions Quest in this district is taking place in the Fukushima region, a hard hit area following the earthquake and tsunami last year.

Japan, District 337-B — The Lions of District 337-B were awarded US$25,000 to hold three Lions Quest workshops, training 75 teachers and reaching 686 students. They will also hold seven seminars. The district will focus on establishing one model school, where all classes and grade levels will teach Lions Quest principles.

Puerto Rico, Multiple District 51 — Through a US$100,000 grant, Lions in Puerto Rico Multiple District 51 will host 20 Lions Quest training workshops for teachers, training between 500 and 720 public school teachers to expand Lions Quest in Puerto Rico. Locally, six to eight trainers will also be trained to hold future workshops.

MD300 Taiwan — MD300 Taiwan was awarded US$100,000 to host six workshops, training 216 teachers. This will reach 1,080 students. The Lions will implement Lions Quest in schools where Leo Clubs are established or will soon be established. Local trainers will also be trained to make the program sustainable.

Uruguay, Multiple District J — A grant of US$30,000 was awarded to the Lions of Multiple District J to continue their work expanding Lions Quest in Uruguay. This grant will provide three workshops for teachers and one seminar for Lions members.

Maryland, USA, District 22-A — The Lions of District 22-A received US$24,000 to expand Lions Quest in Baltimore to help at-risk youth. This grant will support four workshops to train a total of 140 teachers, impacting almost 10,000 students. This expansion builds on previous success in District 22-A with implementing Lions Quest.

Minnesota, USA, District 5M-8 — A US$11,410 grant was awarded to train 36 teachers through a Lions Quest workshop in District 5M-8. Lions in this district have previously trained teachers in Lions Quest at the middle school level, and this grant will train elementary school teachers.

Grants Approved at the January SightFirst Advisory Committee Meeting: 16 Grants Approved Totaling US$5,731,646

Brazil, District LB-4 — The Lions of District LB-4 were granted US$216,000 to provide 4,000 cataract surgeries to bilateral cataract blind patients. The surgeries will take place at Lions Vision Institute in Cuiabá. Since 2001, the Lions of District LB-4 has helped facilitate 7,866 cataract surgeries through the SightFirst program.

Cambodia — US$126,690 was awarded to PreahAng Duong Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to upgrade the cataract and diabetic retinopathy components of its ophthalmology residency program. Essential teaching equipment will be purchased and additional retinal training will be provided in collaboration with the Cambodian Diabetes Association. In addition, a national training program will be developed in order to train ophthalmic providers in community eye care management techniques. Sixty eye care providers will be trained through this grant.

Cameroon, District 403-B — US$783,521 was awarded to Lions in District 403-B to continue their work towards an onchocerciasis (river blindness) control program nationwide. Lions clubs will help with planning, monitoring, community awareness and mobilization campaigns, as well as advocacy efforts. This project aims to distribute treatments to at least 82% of the eligible population, train or retrain 16,254 community drug distributors, 183 community supervisors at district and health centers levels and 777 medical personnel at referral hospitals and distribute more than 3.4 million treatments of Mectizan over a period of one-year.

China — US$1,750,000 was awarded in China to support the first phase of a national blinding trachoma elimination effort in China. This grant will provide support for the assessment and planning of this project, including training. Funds are also set aside for treatment for those found to have blinding trachoma during the assessment phase, as appropriate. The project partners are the Ministry of Health, China, and the local Lions clubs of China.  A previous grant in support of this effort was approved in May 2011.

China — US$736,000 was awarded to support the Multi-Sector Blindness Prevention Program in Liaoning Province, China. The grant provides support for a pilot initiative that will examine the linking up tertiary eye care centers to peripheral centers in nine counties in Liaoning Province. It is expected to demonstrate that high-quality eye care can be effectively provided to rural areas. Funds will be used for equipment, and eye care personnel training. The Ministry of Health, China, expects that the lessons learned from the pilot will be translated by the provincial government into action throughout Liaoning. The project partners are the Ministry of Health, China, and the local Lions clubs of China. A previous grant in support of this effort was approved in May 2011.

Cuba — A US$128,669 grant was awarded to the Cuban Society of Ophthalmology to purchase needed equipment to upgrade their Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) program at Ramon Pando Ferrer Hospital in Havana. The hospital is the national referral center for premature births and pediatric ophthalmology in Cuba and is linked to 24 eye care centers located throughout the country. This grant helps the hospital to screen up to 450 infants over a three year period for ROP, providing treatment as need.  In addition, the project will educate national health workers and parents of premature infants on ROP.

India, District 321-F — The Lions Club of Patran Nial in District 321-F received a US$52,040 grant to upgrade the eye hospital they established in 2009. The hospital will purchase diagnostic and surgical equipment and an outreach screening vehicle. Management and manpower training will be held for the hospital’s management team. Through this grant, the Lions Eye Hospital will increase its cataract output to 1,500 by 2014, as well as provide outpatient care to 15,000 patients. 

India, District 323-A3 — US$700,958 was awarded to the ophthalmology department of the Bhakti Vedanta Hospital, just north of Mumbai, India. Working with the Lions Club of Juhu in District 323-A3, the hospital will construct and equip the Lions Ophthalmological Centre thanks in part to this SightFirst grant. Once completed, the ophthalmology department at Bhakti Vedanta will provide 9,000 cataract surgeries, 1,200 diabetic retinopathy treatments and 1,500 glaucoma surgeries by 2014.

India, District 324-D6 — A US$81,327 grant was awarded to Lions in District 324-D6 in India to upgrade the Lions Eye Hospital in Madanapalle. Through this grant, the hospital will increase its cataract surgical output to 5,000 by 2014. The hospital will double its capacity to treat patients, upgrade operating and diagnostic equipment and acquire a new vehicle that will enable the hospital to enhance its outreach efforts. The grant also provides for manpower and management training.

India, Multiple District 321-E — US$106,724 was awarded to the Lions of Multiple District 321-E and the All India Confederation of the Blind (AICB) for a vocational training and microloan program. AICB is an internationally recognized organization for the education and rehabilitation of the blind and visually impaired. Using a community based rehabilitation method, the Lions of Allahabad City and AICB will partner to provide vocational training to 500 irreversibly blind persons in Kaushambi District, Uttar Pradesh State. Small, interest free loans will be provided to 250 blind entrepreneurs to begin cottage industries in their homes, which will add to the financial well-being of their families and empower them as active, contributing members of the local economy. All loan repayments will be deposited into a revolving fund and made accessible to additional blind entrepreneurs who would like to start their own businesses. This is the first project of its kind and an exciting development for the SightFirst program.

Lebanon, District 351 — US$133,750 was awarded to District 351 to cover a range of surgical and outpatient equipment for the new operating theater at Tripoli Governmental Hospital. This hospital is located north of Beirut and specializes in the treatment and care of children born prematurely.  This grant will make possible over 600 cataract surgeries a year, and other interventions.  Additionally, prematurely born children suffering from retinopathy of prematurity will be able to have their condition treated within Tripoli Governmental Hospital with the help of the grant.

Madagascar, District 403-B — A US$670,567 grant was awarded to the Lions of Madagascar to help upgrade the ophthalmology department at a local university hospital and establish a vision satellite center. This grant will also support diabetic retinopathy services through equipment upgrades at major diabetic centers and training of 20 medical and eye care professionals on diabetic retinopathy and its complications. Finally, SightFirst support will make possible 10,000 cataract surgeries, 500 laser treatments for diabetic retinopathy, and training opportunities for over 1,500 nurses and health workers.

Paraguay, Multiple District M — US$108,000 was awarded to the Lions of Multiple District M in Paraguay to partner with Fundación Vision in Asunción. This partnership will conduct a cataract detection campaign and provide 2,000 surgeries to those who are bilateral, cataract blind. Fundación Vision is a non-profit hospital created in 1999 as an alternative to the public and private eye care services available in Asunción. This project will specifically target populations in the interior of the country that are unable to access affordable and quality eye care services due to economic, geographic and cultural barriers. 

Peru, District H-1 — A US$71,900 grant was awarded to the Lions of District H-1 in La Libertad, Peru, to conduct a diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment campaign in collaboration with the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO). The RIO is the Peruvian Ministry of Health’s regional referral center for comprehensive eye care and is the only hospital in La Libertad that offers treatment for diabetic retinopathy. This project will provide 630 laser treatments to diabetic retinopathy patients.

Vietnam — US$50,000 was awarded to the Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital and Sponsorial Association for Poor Patients to hold a cataract detection and treatment campaign in seven districts surrounding Ho Chi Minh City. The project will provide 1,100 surgeries and follow-up care for indigent bilateral cataract blind patients. Surgeries will take place at district hospitals with local staff.  The Lions of Thailand will provide managerial oversight of the project.

United Kingdom — US$15,500 was awarded in the United Kingdom to support the Chinese-language version of the Community Eye Health Journal. The Community Eye Health Journal seeks to bridge the information and knowledge gap that exists between eye care professionals in the developing and developed worlds, as well as to provide a forum where researchers from developing countries can publish their findings. It is available free of charge to 30,000 eye care professionals in 184 different countries. In China, thanks to previous SightFirst support, an estimated 6,000 eye care professionals received the journal in 2010. This new grant will continue this support for one extra year.