3. Highlights from selected projects:
3.1 CCB Secretariat:
3.1.1 The 2009 Biennial General Meeting and Related Activities were hosted successfully during July 29th and August 1st, 2009 at The St. Kitts Marriott Resort. Highlights included:
· Wednesday July 29th: Meeting of the Executive Committee;
· Thursday July 30th: Plenary and Workshop Sessions; Opening Ceremony and Presentation of the James Alves Awards;
· Friday July 31st: Plenary and Workshop Sessions and simultaneous Meeting of Zones;
· Saturday August 1st: Business Session; Election of Executive Members and Social Evening; Several local dignitaries, including St. Kitts/Nevis Governor-General and Prime Minster, attended the Opening Ceremony. While the Prime Minister delivered the ‘Feature Address’, the Governor-General presented the James Alves Awards to seven (7) citizens of the Federation who contributed to improving the lives of persons who are blind or visually impaired. Additionally, ‘Outstanding Achievement Awards’ were presented to Dr. Michel Pean (Haiti) and Senator Kerryann Ifill (Barbados).
3.1.2 The Secretariat coordinated the visits of a Technical Team to: St. Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and The Grenadines during August 17th – 20th. The visits were intended to engage the Ministries of Health in reviewing V2020 Issues and exploring ways in which CCB can advance the Action Plans to Reduce Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment.
3.1.3 Keva Richards, Program Officer, has been nominated by CCB to attend the Sightsavers EC Project Workshop in Kenya. The Workshop is intended to equip participants with the tools and skills to manage EC Projects in their respective regions.
3.1.4 The dates for the Meeting of the Caribbean V2020 (INGO) Coordinating Group, revision of Caribbean Regional V2020 Strategic Plan and Related Activities have been finalised. The Secretariat will coordinate all logistics for the Meetings, to be held in Barbados.
· November 30th: Meeting of Caribbean V2020 (INGO) Coordinating Group;
· December 1st: Meeting re: Revision of Caribbean V2020 Strategic Plan
· [Evening] – November 30th /December 1st: Meeting re: EC Project.
3.2 Barbados:
3.2.1 A CCB Team, comprising the CEO, Program Officer and Technical Adviser for V2020-related issues, visited Barbados on August 19th. Meetings were held with Senior Officials in the Ministry to Health, including the Permanent Secretary and Chief Medical Officer, to discuss matters pertaining to V2020 Activities, Human Resource needs and the development of a National V2020 Plan. The Team also toured the Eye Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
3.2.2 Further, the Team held talks with PAHO’s Adviser for Health Systems and Services Development, Dr. Nelson Atehortua De La Pena, whose tour of duty will end soon.
3.3 Grenada:
3.3.1 CCB Team comprising the CEO, Dr. Gavin Henry (Technical Adviser – V2020 Related Programs), and Keva Richards (Program Officer) visited Grenada on August 17th and held discussions with several stakeholders on Council’s Programs.
· Discussions with Senior Officials of the MOH, including – the Minister of Health, Permanent Secretary, Chief Health Planner, and Government Ophthalmologist focused on exploring ways in which the two Organisations can collaborate to achieve the objectives of the Action Plan to prevent Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment. Issues relating to Blindness Prevention, Chronic Diseases, Tertiary-level Care, Eye Screening, Human Resource Development and implementation of the National Eye Care (V2020) Plan were mentioned.
· Meanwhile, consultations with the Principal and Staff of the Resource Unit for the Visually Impaired reviewed progress made in Inclusive Education Services. Issues highlighted, included – Eye Screening and the need for collaboration with MOH; Staffing, in relation to Student-Teacher Ratio; and repairs to the Braille Embosser.