PROVISION OF SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR EYE HEALTH IN KENYA

FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION TENDER JULY 2025 

1. Introduction

The Fred Hollows Foundation (The Foundation) is a secular non-profit public health organization based in Australia, which was founded in 1992 by eminent eye surgeon Professor Fred Hollows. The Foundation focuses on strengthening eye health systems and the treatment and prevention of avoidable blindness caused by Cataract, Trachoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Refractive Error. The Foundation operates in more than 20 countries across Australia, The Pacific, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa. The Foundation was named The Australian Charity of the Year 2013 in the inaugural Australian Charity Awards.

The Foundation began working in Kenya in 2004. The Foundation work in partnership with the Ministry of Health at both national and county levels, Community Based Organizations and private hospitals to deliver high quality eye health services. The Foundation in collaboration with Ministry of Health – Ophthalmic Services Unit seeks the services of a consultant to coordinate the Eye Care Situations Analysis in Kenya using the WHO Eye Care Situational Analysis Tool (ECSAT).

2. Background to Eye Care Situation in Kenya

The Sustainable Model of Eye Health Financing (SMEHF) project aims to reduce avoidable blindness in Kenya by enhancing equitable access to eye health services in seven counties. The project leverages existing public health financing mechanisms in line with the global and Kenya goals of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The project aims to supporting ongoing health financing reforms, and support partners in tracking of revenue generated by health providers from various sources of financing, distribution and allocation for eye health services. The goal is to enable more patients, especially vulnerable groups, to access affordable eye care services. While also ensuring that facilities manage resources efficiently for sustainable eye health financing.

The project will ensure the implementation of eye health financing in alignment with national health financing policies, and legal frameworks, and the specific contexts and systems of each county. This will be achieved through objectives which include strengthening the institutional capacity of facilities, enhancing revenue generation, promoting efficient resource management, and upgrading eye units and workforce skills.

The project aims to realise the following specific outcomes.

• Community members, service providers, and hospital management team (HMT) are aware of the SHI ophthalmic benefit package and claims management.
• vulnerable populations (Women, Elderly and poor households) are protected via health insurance and are utilizing it for eye care services.
• Performance based contracting and payment financing mechanisms are functioning at provider level and lessons are being learnt and applied from this new approach.
• Equipment and commodities are sustainably available at partner facilities**.**
• Strengthened Leadership, Governance and Evidence for Sustainable Eye Health Service
• High-Quality cataract surgeries are delivered consistently across partner facilities and outreach programs.

3. Purpose of The Consultancy

This consultancy is being commissioned by the Fred Hollows Foundation to establish the cost of an eye unit based on the Standards of Opthalmic Care of the Ministry of Health in Kenya.

The purpose of the consultancy is to:

• Conduct a needs assessment of a functional eye unit at (Level 4 and 5) eye clinic at level 3 and eye health services at level 2 in the counties of Makueni, Meru and Kisumu (In total 5 facilities will be assessed in 3 counties) and form basis for costing as per the Standards of Ophthalmic Services for Kenya).
• Establish the cost of a functional eye unit at (Level 4 and 5), eye clinic at level 3 and eye health services at level 2 as per the Standards for Ophthalmic services of the Ministry of Health, Kenya.
• The consultancy entails utilizing the available data on eye health facilities, reports on eye care situation, and ophthalmic services documents. The consultant will work closely with County Health Management Teams in Meru, Makueni and Kisumu to assess current needs of five eye health facilities and allocate costs associated with establishing a functional eye unit at levels 4 & 5 as well as an eye clinic at level 3 and eye health services at level 2 as per the Standards of Ophthalmic Care in Kenya. The aim is to establish current state of existing facilities and total cost of a functioning eye unit for effective planning and establishment of such facilities.

1. Scope of the Consultancy and Key Questions

Scope of the assignment:

The consultant is required to perform the following functions at minimum:

• Use county specific Eye Care Situation Analysis Tool (ECSAT) reports and facility assessment findings to establish the current state of eye care facilities in two counties
• Utilize the Standards for Ophthalmic Services document of the Ministry of Health, Kenya (copy to be provided) and other relevant official reference documents of the Ministry of Health to identify and cost ingredients associated with establishing an eye unit or eye clinic at various levels.
• Collaborate with the three counties to establish cost of a functional eye unit.
• Identify costs associated with improvement of existing eye care units or clinics in surveyed counties.
• Develop a report indicating the cost associated with establishing and operating a functional eye unit or eye clinic.

How to apply

Become Member To see All details. Join us Or Login