The Impact of Eyecare on Caregiver Roles in Zambia
How eye health affects girls’ education and caregiving burden
In many low-income communities, untreated vision problems do not just affect the individual; they have ripple effects across entire households. Juru Consulting will explore how poor eye health in adults often forces young girls to miss school and take on caregiving responsibilities at home. This project will examine the direct connection between limited access to vision care and interruptions in girls’ education, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The research will involve household surveys, interviews with caregivers and school-aged girls, and a review of school attendance records in areas where vision interventions are being introduced. By documenting the hidden costs of unaddressed eye health, the project will bring attention to a critical but often ignored factor in global education and gender equity conversations.
Why this matters: When girls are forced to sacrifice their education to care for others, the long-term impact is generational. It limits their future opportunities and contributes to cycles of poverty. Addressing vision care is not just a health intervention; it becomes a strategy for advancing education, gender equality, and economic resilience.
Impact: This project will generate insights to help funders, educators, and policymakers design integrated programs that link health and education. By showing the relationship between vision care and school retention, it will provide a new case for including household health in education and gender development efforts.