The VOSH in Africa 2026 Strategic Gathering, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya (2–3 June 2026) at the Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital, is a high-level event designed to strengthen optometry’s contribution to sustainable primary eye health care systems across Africa. The meeting will bring together African and US leaders and faculty from optometry schools and non-profit associations affiliated with VOSH/International. The gathering is a strategic initiative between VOSH/International and the National Vision/The Coalition for Clear Vision (NVI/TCCV) aimed at aligning regional priorities and maximising synergies across ten African countries.
Over the past two decades, optometry education in Sub-Saharan Africa has expanded significantly. VOSH/International has played an increasingly important role in supporting this growth through academic collaboration, student engagement, humanitarian service delivery, research, and policy-relevant initiatives aligned with global frameworks such as WHO SPECS 2030. Building on this momentum, the gathering will provide a structured platform for coordinated strategic planning, partnership development, and shared learning across diverse country contexts. A key component of the meeting will be the localisation of The Clear Vision Coalition framework, providing country-specific insights to identify opportunities, limitations, and synergies with existing VOSH initiatives.
Discussions in Nairobi will focus on strengthening optometric education and humanitarian clinical standards, as well as advancing the integration of optometry within national eye care and overall health systems. Participants will also explore sustainable career pathways for optometry graduates and explore market opportunities and constraints affecting access to quality vision care.
The programme will combine strategic dialogue with practical inter-professional collaboration. Participants will take part in an Infective Keratitis Workshop, delivered in partnership with Keralink International. The event will conclude with a networking activity to strengthen collaboration between optometrists and ophthalmologists.
By convening representatives from 18 optometry schools across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone Africa, alongside professional associations and international partners, the gathering aims to establish a shared strategic direction, strengthen regional partnerships, and identify actionable priorities. These outcomes will inform future VOSH/International programming and policy engagement in Africa and mark the beginning of a coordinated effort with NVI/TCCV to transform eye health across the region. The Rotary Club of Nairobi Utumishi and Keralink International are supporting this event.
For more information, please contact Maria Arce, Executive Director, VOSH/International, at vosh@vosh.org
