Prevention, screening, and experimentation for better support of visually impaired individuals—this is the innovative project that Action4Vision aims to tackle through an unprecedented cross-border cooperation program between France and Italy.
It has sometimes been considered that communities living in rural and mountainous areas are condemned to marginalization due to their geographical positioning.
In the field of care and management of visual impairments, screening and support generally take place in health centers located on the outskirts of small, rugged villages.
– Home help associations and associations representing visually impaired individuals have noted greater isolation of populations in remote areas due to inaccessibility to screening programs and rehabilitation follow-up,” warns the representative of the Valentin Hauy 06 association.
This is notably the case for these cross-border valleys, between France and Italy, from the Southern Alpine regions (Hautes Alpes, Alpes de Haute Provence, Alpes Maritimes) to the Provinces of Cunéo and Imperia, where the project takes shape.
Action4Vision aims to develop there until January 2020, with the help of its partners (Mutualité Française PACA SSAM, the David Chiossone Institute of Genoa, the Local Health Agency of Cunéo, APEDV, the Valentin Hauy Association).
Four objectives are sought:
– The creation of a cross-border observatory on low vision by associating regional bodies on both sides.
– The establishment of a professional practices exchange initiative in border areas.
– The implementation of joint prevention and awareness actions.
– The experimentation of new proximity services able to meet the needs for visual support and screening in the territories.
Action4Vision particularly aims to achieve several results in terms of impact: better support for visually impaired individuals and those at risk through the intervention model, increased quality of life for individuals with visual disabilities, increased efficiency of the socio-health service organization through private-public cooperation, and strengthened and closer socio-health and educational assistance for visually impaired individuals.
In summary, Action4Vision strives to promote “social inclusion and the fight against poverty through the integration of communities across borders,” with the ambition to one day bring benefits to the territories.
Tanguy Barbancey
