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How can countries across the Eastern Caribbean strengthen access to sustainable, high-quality eye care?
That question took centre stage at the 2026 Global Ophthalmology Summit Hackathon, hosted by American Academy of Ophthalmology and Wills Eye Hospital, where the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Regional Eye Health Strategic Plan Project was featured as a real-world challenge for ophthalmologists, residents and global eye health professionals.
Working in interdisciplinary teams, participants explored what a coordinated approach to eye care could look like across six OECS countries — considering how services could be delivered across countries, the workforce needed to support them, the role of technology and infrastructure, sustainable financing, governance and how success could be measured.
The Hackathon builds on an ongoing collaboration between the OECS Commission and The Brenda Strafford Foundation to assess eye care needs and capacity across the region and develop an evidence-based Regional Eye Health Strategy that supports greater access, equity and sustainability.
Dr. Nathanya Julien, an ophthalmologist from Grenada and contributor to the project, joined Kevin Melanson, BSF’s Vice President, International Health & Social Impact at the Hackathon to represent the initiative and contribute to the discussion.
Bringing diverse perspectives together around a shared challenge is an important part of building a stronger future for eye health across the Eastern Caribbean. We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the conversation and see this regional work explored on a global stage.
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