Vision Health Initiative

Goaisa is a large Fair Trade Certified sugar producing farm and a major employer in the region, employing over 3,000 workers from the surrounding communities.
Goiasa’a Fair Trade Committee identified the need for ophthalmology services due to lack the resources and access to this specialized care. In response, the committee implemented a project to address eye health and treatment. The goal of this ongoing project is to expand the access to ophthalmology services not only to Goiasa's employees (permanent and temporary workers), but also their dependents and members of the community. The scope of the project and the investment of Community Development Funds includes ophthalmological exams, corrective lens distribution and enhancing the beneficaries' knowledge of eye health, care and protection.
In 2024 an investment of $28,560 USD in Community Development Funds was made to address the vision health of the workers. The project was implemented at four locations: Bom Jesus De Goias, Brejo/ Venda Seca/ Rochelandia, Gioatube, and Joviania e Aloandia. In total, after 1,100 exams and screening, 798 beneficiaries were provided free corrective lenses.
There were additional services available for children with multidisciplinary care approach. Children had access to professional follow-up and treatment with a nutritionist, psychologist, psychomotor therapist, neurologist, and physical therapist.
A beneficiary of the project shared "Paulo had vision loss and he attributed it to diabetes. The test provided by the project allowed him to identify that it was cataracts. He was able to get surgery, and after he recovered, he said that for a long time he hadn't seen people's faces clearly, he hadn't seen the street, the sun, how beautiful the world is."