Essilor’s social impact fund, Vision For Life™, announced a €300,000 financial support scheme to help over 1,800 vulnerable primary vision care providers, whose livelihoods are at risk due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These primary vision care providers are based in five countries – India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia and Kenya – and will each receive a cash assistance sum, equivalent to one month’s income.

These primary vision care providers are mainly micro-entrepreneurs trained under Essilor’s Eye Mitra (friend of the eyes in Hindi) program, first launched in India in 2013 and subsequently expanded and adapted to different countries around the world. The program trains young under- and unemployed women and men in rural and semi-urban areas to carry out basic vision screening and supports them to set up their own business to sell prescription glasses and sunglasses in their communities. This helps bring sustainable vision care to areas where it was not available before. Today there are over 16,000 primary vision care providers globally, providing sustainable access to vision care for over 320 million people.

The pandemic has seen many countries impose stringent lockdown measures to contain the spread of the virus, impacting a lot of businesses, including the network of primary vision care providers. They have been forced to close or operate under restricted conditions. Even as countries emerge from lockdowns, business has not returned to normal for these vision care providers. A recent survey conducted by Essilor found that a number of them do not have enough savings to sustain prolonged business closures and are the only source of income for their families.

“In these trying and uncertain times, the safety and well-being of our partners and the communities we serve is of utmost importance. Our primary vision care providers are on the front line and a crucial link in the last mile connectivity of creating awareness of good vision and delivering eye care services to underserved communities. But they are in danger of going out of business, therefore we hope this support will sustain them and help them return to normalcy once it is safe for them to do so,” said Jayanth Bhuvaraghan, Chairman, Vision For Life, and Chief Mission Officer, Essilor International.”

The cash assistance sum is equivalent to one month’s income for each primary vision care provider and will be disbursed to each primary vision care provider with the help of local NGO partners. Essilor has earlier issued personal protective equipment, safety tips as well as advisories on the safe handling and usage of eyeglasses to stem the spread of COVID-19 to its entire network of primary vision care providers. It is also providing online training, enabling them to upskill during this period. In addition, the Essilor teams are investigating relevant support schemes and assistance programs within each country, and helping the vision care providers apply for them.

“I’m thankful for this assistance. Without it, my family and I will have difficulties with our daily lives. The training and safety tips are also very helpful. I share the tips with my neighbours and customers so they know to wash their hands and keep a safe distance from one another. I am looking forward to reopening my business and helping more people in my village see clearly,” said Rakesh Yadav, primary vision care provider from Madhya Pradesh, India.

ABOUT ESSILOR'S VISION FOR LIFE™

ESSILOR'S VISION FOR LIFETM IS A SOCIAL IMPACT FUND DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING POOR VISION BY ACCELERATING INITIATIVES THAT WILL ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE 2.7 BILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE WITH UNCORRECTED VISION. IT CREATES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE THE RIGHT POPULATIONS IN NEED ARE REACHED. THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCALLY AFFORDABLE VISION CARE WILL RESULT IN JOB CREATION, POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.