Empowering women is central to creating a healthier, more equitable world. Through innovative programs and targeted initiatives, we focus on improving access to eye care and fostering inclusive opportunities for women as healthcare providers, leaders, and changemakers. The result is improved vision, increased economic participation, and stronger communities.
In many parts of the world, women face disproportionate barriers to healthcare, including eye care. This inequality impacts their ability to contribute fully to their families, communities, and economies. KeraLink International tackles these challenges head-on by ensuring equitable access to eye health services. When women regain their sight, they also reclaim opportunities—from supporting their families to engaging in economic and social activities that drive progress for all.
The Aadya Initiative: Women Leading the Way One of KeraLink’s most impactful partnerships is the Aadya initiative which empowers women to serve as vision screeners in rural and remote communities. These women, known as Aadya workers, are trained to provide door-to-door eye health screenings and refer individuals needing further care to local eye hospitals.
This program does more than improve access to care. It offers employment opportunities, boosting the confidence and standing of women within their communities. By becoming healthcare workers, Aadya workers inspire change, showing that women can lead and transform healthcare systems.
The Aadya worker Initiative began at Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in India and was developed with the support of Combat Blindness International. In 2023, KeraLink International partnered to further fund and expand this initiative, with a focus on training Aadya workers to screen for corneal disease in underserved, remote areas. This partnership demonstrates how collaboration can combat preventable blindness and change lives at scale.
Changing Lives, Changing Perspectives
The stories of Aadya workers reflect the transformative power of this program. One Aadya worker shared her personal journey.
“At first, my kids thought, ‘Mom just stays at home. She can’t go out.’ But now they are very proud of what I do. In fact, they even go around calling us eye doctors.”
In rural villages, where awareness of eye hospitals and treatments is often lacking, Aadya workers bridge the gap. They bring critical care to those who need it most, educating communities and restoring sight – one person at a time.
The name “Aadya” carries deep cultural and spiritual significance. It is a divine term referring to a goddess and representing how women possess the qualities of a liberator, protector, and warrior. Aadya workers embody these roles, serving as protectors of sight and warriors against blindness. They are the liberators of hope and progress for the communities they serve.
The Impact: Vision, Progress, and Hope
In just the first six months of 2024, 49 Aadya workers screened an astounding 252,238 people – an average of 5,150 individuals per worker. This success speaks to the power and scalability of the initiative.
Imagine the possibilities if more workers had access to the tools they need. Just $2,500 provides vision screening kits for 10 workers, enabling them to screen 51,500 people over six months and 103,000 people per year.
Through the Aadya initiative, women are not only transforming their own lives but also changing the world around them. Your support can help us expand this life-changing program to reach more communities. Invest today and empower women to become agents of change in the fight against preventable blindness.
