What we are reading...

This artice examines the global prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among children, highlighting the importance of prevention, early detection and access to appropriate eye care. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities and improving access to essential services. Strengthening childhood vision screening, referral and treatment can reduce preventable visual impairment, support children’s learning and development, and promote inclusion and participation in everyday life.

This artice examines the global prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among children, highlighting the importance of prevention, early detection and access to appropriate eye care. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities and improving access to essential services. Strengthening childhood vision screening, referral and treatment can reduce preventable visual impairment, support children’s learning and development, and promote inclusion and participation in everyday life.

This report highlights how access to affordable eyeglasses can address uncorrected vision impairment and improve educational and economic opportunities. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, equitable access to services and inclusive development. For children, timely access to vision screening, prescription glasses and appropriate eye care can reduce barriers to learning, support participation in school and daily activities, and promote better developmental outcomes.

This report highlights how access to affordable eyeglasses can address uncorrected vision impairment and improve educational and economic opportunities. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, equitable access to services and inclusive development. For children, timely access to vision screening, prescription glasses and appropriate eye care can reduce barriers to learning, support participation in school and daily activities, and promote better developmental outcomes.

This report highlights the global burden of vision impairment and calls for integrated, people-centred eye care throughout life. It emphasises prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation to improve access to essential eye health services. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early intervention and inclusive development. Strengthening child eye health services can reduce preventable vision loss and support children’s learning, participation and wellbeing.

This report highlights the global burden of vision impairment and calls for integrated, people-centred eye care throughout life. It emphasises prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation to improve access to essential eye health services. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early intervention and inclusive development. Strengthening child eye health services can reduce preventable vision loss and support children’s learning, participation and wellbeing.

This policy brief examines when screening is appropriate and how programmes can be designed to maximise benefits while minimising potential harms. It emphasises evidence-based decisions, appropriate follow-up and the availability of effective interventions after screening. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on early identification, disability inclusion and access to essential services. Child screening initiatives should therefore be linked to reliable referral pathways, diagnosis and timely intervention to improve developmental outcomes.

This policy brief examines when screening is appropriate and how programmes can be designed to maximise benefits while minimising potential harms. It emphasises evidence-based decisions, appropriate follow-up and the availability of effective interventions after screening. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on early identification, disability inclusion and access to essential services. Child screening initiatives should therefore be linked to reliable referral pathways, diagnosis and timely intervention to improve developmental outcomes.

This systematic review examines children’s access to eye care services through the education sector in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the role of schools in identifying vision problems and facilitating access to screening, referral and treatment. This relates to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and inclusive access to essential services. Integrating eye care into school health programmes can reduce barriers to diagnosis, support learning and promote children’s development, participation and wellbeing.

This systematic review examines children’s access to eye care services through the education sector in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the role of schools in identifying vision problems and facilitating access to screening, referral and treatment. This relates to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and inclusive access to essential services. Integrating eye care into school health programmes can reduce barriers to diagnosis, support learning and promote children’s development, participation and wellbeing.

This report provides a standard guidelines for school eye health programmes in low- and middle-income countries, outlining approaches to vision screening, referral, treatment and coordination between education and health services. This supports the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and equitable access to essential services. Implementing school-based eye health programmes can help identify visual difficulties, facilitate timely intervention, reduce barriers to learning and promote inclusive educational participation and child development.

This report provides a standard guidelines for school eye health programmes in low- and middle-income countries, outlining approaches to vision screening, referral, treatment and coordination between education and health services. This supports the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and equitable access to essential services. Implementing school-based eye health programmes can help identify visual difficulties, facilitate timely intervention, reduce barriers to learning and promote inclusive educational participation and child development.

These guidelines provide policy-makers and planners with guidance on implementing vision screening as part of integrated school health programmes. They emphasise early identification of visual difficulties, appropriate referral and access to eye care services for school-aged children. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early intervention and inclusive access to services. Integrating vision screening into school health systems can support learning, reduce barriers to participation and improve developmental outcomes for children.

These guidelines provide policy-makers and planners with guidance on implementing vision screening as part of integrated school health programmes. They emphasise early identification of visual difficulties, appropriate referral and access to eye care services for school-aged children. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early intervention and inclusive access to services. Integrating vision screening into school health systems can support learning, reduce barriers to participation and improve developmental outcomes for children.

This article examines the outcomes of preschool hearing screening in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including programme effectiveness and caregivers’ perspectives. The study is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and access to appropriate support. Strengthening preschool hearing screening and referral pathways can facilitate earlier diagnosis and intervention, support communication and learning, and improve developmental outcomes for children with hearing loss.

This article examines the outcomes of preschool hearing screening in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including programme effectiveness and caregivers’ perspectives. The study is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and access to appropriate support. Strengthening preschool hearing screening and referral pathways can facilitate earlier diagnosis and intervention, support communication and learning, and improve developmental outcomes for children with hearing loss.

This is a review of school-based eye health interventions in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on access to eye care and children’s adherence to spectacle use. The findings are relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early intervention and inclusive access to essential services. Strengthening school-based screening, referral, spectacle provision and follow-up can address barriers to effective vision care, support learning and participation, and improve developmental outcomes for children with visual difficulties.

This is a review of school-based eye health interventions in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on access to eye care and children’s adherence to spectacle use. The findings are relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early intervention and inclusive access to essential services. Strengthening school-based screening, referral, spectacle provision and follow-up can address barriers to effective vision care, support learning and participation, and improve developmental outcomes for children with visual difficulties.

This article investigates the prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors among learners in low-resource high schools in the Free State, South Africa, highlighting an important barrier to educational participation and achievement. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, equitable access to services and inclusive development. Strengthening school-based vision screening, access to corrective spectacles and referral services can reduce avoidable visual barriers and support learners’ educational and developmental outcomes.

This article investigates the prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors among learners in low-resource high schools in the Free State, South Africa, highlighting an important barrier to educational participation and achievement. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, equitable access to services and inclusive development. Strengthening school-based vision screening, access to corrective spectacles and referral services can reduce avoidable visual barriers and support learners’ educational and developmental outcomes.

This review highlights the rationale, implementation models, impact and challenges of school vision screening programmes worldwide. The review highlights the importance of identifying visual difficulties early and ensuring that screening leads to appropriate referral and treatment. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early intervention and inclusive access to services. Effective school vision screening can reduce barriers to learning, strengthen educational participation and support improved developmental outcomes for children with visual difficulties.

This review highlights the rationale, implementation models, impact and challenges of school vision screening programmes worldwide. The review highlights the importance of identifying visual difficulties early and ensuring that screening leads to appropriate referral and treatment. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early intervention and inclusive access to services. Effective school vision screening can reduce barriers to learning, strengthen educational participation and support improved developmental outcomes for children with visual difficulties.

This article examines priorities for school eye health in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the need for accessible screening, appropriate referral pathways and sustainable eye care services for learners. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and equitable access to essential services. Strengthening school eye health programmes can reduce preventable barriers to learning, improve access to corrective interventions and promote inclusive educational participation and developmental outcomes for children.

This article examines priorities for school eye health in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the need for accessible screening, appropriate referral pathways and sustainable eye care services for learners. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and equitable access to essential services. Strengthening school eye health programmes can reduce preventable barriers to learning, improve access to corrective interventions and promote inclusive educational participation and developmental outcomes for children.

This article investigates patterns of refractive errors and visual function among school-going children in South Africa, contributing local evidence on childhood vision needs. The study is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and equitable access to health services. Strengthening school-based vision screening, referral and access to corrective spectacles can help address visual difficulties, reduce barriers to learning and support children’s educational participation, development and inclusion.

This article investigates patterns of refractive errors and visual function among school-going children in South Africa, contributing local evidence on childhood vision needs. The study is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and equitable access to health services. Strengthening school-based vision screening, referral and access to corrective spectacles can help address visual difficulties, reduce barriers to learning and support children’s educational participation, development and inclusion.

This is a review showing evidence on how spectacle correction affects the wellbeing of children with vision impairment caused by uncorrected refractive errors. The review highlights the importance of accessible and timely vision care in supporting children’s functioning and quality of life. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, inclusion and equitable access to essential services. Improving access to corrective spectacles can support children’s learning, participation, wellbeing and developmental outcomes.

This is a review showing evidence on how spectacle correction affects the wellbeing of children with vision impairment caused by uncorrected refractive errors. The review highlights the importance of accessible and timely vision care in supporting children’s functioning and quality of life. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, inclusion and equitable access to essential services. Improving access to corrective spectacles can support children’s learning, participation, wellbeing and developmental outcomes.

This is a review of evidence on how childhood vision impairment affects reading and literacy in educational settings, highlighting the potential barriers visual difficulties create for learning and academic participation. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, inclusive education and equitable access to support services. Early identification of vision impairment and access to appropriate interventions can help reduce learning barriers, strengthen literacy development and promote children’s educational participation and long-term developmental outcomes.

This is a review of evidence on how childhood vision impairment affects reading and literacy in educational settings, highlighting the potential barriers visual difficulties create for learning and academic participation. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, inclusive education and equitable access to support services. Early identification of vision impairment and access to appropriate interventions can help reduce learning barriers, strengthen literacy development and promote children’s educational participation and long-term developmental outcomes.

This report provides an overview of vision screening programmes across 46 countries, highlighting variations in screening approaches, implementation and service provision. The review is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and equitable access to essential services. Understanding international screening models can inform the development of accessible, sustainable school vision programmes that facilitate timely referral and treatment, reduce barriers to learning and promote inclusive participation and developmental outcomes for children

This report provides an overview of vision screening programmes across 46 countries, highlighting variations in screening approaches, implementation and service provision. The review is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and equitable access to essential services. Understanding international screening models can inform the development of accessible, sustainable school vision programmes that facilitate timely referral and treatment, reduce barriers to learning and promote inclusive participation and developmental outcomes for children

This is a review highlighting the economic consequences of vision impairment and its leading causes, highlighting the financial and societal costs associated with preventable sight loss and the value of effective eye care interventions. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities and equitable access to essential services. Investing in early detection, treatment and vision rehabilitation can reduce avoidable barriers to education, development and participation, supporting more inclusive outcomes for children.

This is a review highlighting the economic consequences of vision impairment and its leading causes, highlighting the financial and societal costs associated with preventable sight loss and the value of effective eye care interventions. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities and equitable access to essential services. Investing in early detection, treatment and vision rehabilitation can reduce avoidable barriers to education, development and participation, supporting more inclusive outcomes for children.

This article advocates for integrating eye health into school health programmes worldwide, emphasising the importance of identifying and addressing children’s vision needs to support learning and development. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, inclusive access to services and improved developmental outcomes. Incorporating vision screening and referral into school health services can help identify visual difficulties early, reduce barriers to education and promote children’s participation and inclusion.

This article advocates for integrating eye health into school health programmes worldwide, emphasising the importance of identifying and addressing children’s vision needs to support learning and development. This aligns with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, inclusive access to services and improved developmental outcomes. Incorporating vision screening and referral into school health services can help identify visual difficulties early, reduce barriers to education and promote children’s participation and inclusion.

This report examines child morbidity and mortality in South Africa among children under five during 2021–2024, providing evidence to inform improvements in child health services and preventable deaths. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on child survival, health, protection and equitable access to essential services. The report can inform coordinated interventions to address avoidable risks, strengthen health systems and improve outcomes for young children.

This report examines child morbidity and mortality in South Africa among children under five during 2021–2024, providing evidence to inform improvements in child health services and preventable deaths. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on child survival, health, protection and equitable access to essential services. The report can inform coordinated interventions to address avoidable risks, strengthen health systems and improve outcomes for young children.

This article explores factors that promote or constrain executive function (EF) in South African preschool children, examining influences on the cognitive skills needed for attention, self-regulation, planning and learning. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on early childhood development and improving children’s developmental outcomes. Understanding the factors shaping executive function can inform early interventions and supportive environments that strengthen school readiness, learning, wellbeing and children’s opportunities to thrive.

This article explores factors that promote or constrain executive function (EF) in South African preschool children, examining influences on the cognitive skills needed for attention, self-regulation, planning and learning. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on early childhood development and improving children’s developmental outcomes. Understanding the factors shaping executive function can inform early interventions and supportive environments that strengthen school readiness, learning, wellbeing and children’s opportunities to thrive.

This article examines whether alcohol policies can reduce harms experienced by women and children due to men’s alcohol consumption. The review highlights the links between alcohol use, intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, underscoring the need for policy-level prevention. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on child protection and preventing violence against children. Strengthening alcohol policies may help create safer family environments and reduce children’s exposure to violence and related adversity.

This article examines whether alcohol policies can reduce harms experienced by women and children due to men’s alcohol consumption. The review highlights the links between alcohol use, intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, underscoring the need for policy-level prevention. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on child protection and preventing violence against children. Strengthening alcohol policies may help create safer family environments and reduce children’s exposure to violence and related adversity.

This article investigates the feasibility of involving communities in mapping alcohol outlet density and trading hours in two South African communities. The study highlights how community-generated evidence can inform alcohol-related policy and prevention efforts. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), as alcohol availability and trading practices may influence children’s safety and exposure to violence within families and communities. Community-centred approaches can support evidence-informed interventions that strengthen child protection and promote safer environments.

This article investigates the feasibility of involving communities in mapping alcohol outlet density and trading hours in two South African communities. The study highlights how community-generated evidence can inform alcohol-related policy and prevention efforts. This is relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), as alcohol availability and trading practices may influence children’s safety and exposure to violence within families and communities. Community-centred approaches can support evidence-informed interventions that strengthen child protection and promote safer environments.

This Brief highlights the importance of universal early hearing screening in South Africa to identify hearing loss and enable timely intervention. This relates directly to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and access to appropriate support services. Integrating hearing screening into routine child health services can strengthen referral pathways, reduce delays in accessing care and support children’s communication, learning, development and participation, contributing to more inclusive outcomes for children with disabilities.

This Brief highlights the importance of universal early hearing screening in South Africa to identify hearing loss and enable timely intervention. This relates directly to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children with disabilities, early identification and access to appropriate support services. Integrating hearing screening into routine child health services can strengthen referral pathways, reduce delays in accessing care and support children’s communication, learning, development and participation, contributing to more inclusive outcomes for children with disabilities.

This Brief examines how reducing heavy alcohol consumption could help address gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. This connects to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), as GBV and violence within households can expose children to abuse, trauma and unsafe environments, undermining their protection, health and development. Addressing harmful alcohol use alongside violence prevention can contribute to safer homes and communities, strengthen child protection efforts and support children’s wellbeing, particularly those affected by violence against women and caregivers.

This Brief examines how reducing heavy alcohol consumption could help address gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. This connects to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), as GBV and violence within households can expose children to abuse, trauma and unsafe environments, undermining their protection, health and development. Addressing harmful alcohol use alongside violence prevention can contribute to safer homes and communities, strengthen child protection efforts and support children’s wellbeing, particularly those affected by violence against women and caregivers.

This guide provides paths for strengthening vision rehabilitation through coordinated, person-centred services that respond to functional needs across the life course. Its emphasis on early identification, referral, rehabilitation and integration within health and community systems is particularly relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC). For children, accessible vision services can support health, development, learning and participation, reinforcing NSAAC’s focus on improving children’s wellbeing and developmental outcomes.

This guide provides paths for strengthening vision rehabilitation through coordinated, person-centred services that respond to functional needs across the life course. Its emphasis on early identification, referral, rehabilitation and integration within health and community systems is particularly relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC). For children, accessible vision services can support health, development, learning and participation, reinforcing NSAAC’s focus on improving children’s wellbeing and developmental outcomes.

This summary report explores reading habits, attitudes and experiences among South African teenagers. The findings are relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children’s development, learning and wellbeing. Understanding teenagers’ engagement with reading can help identify barriers to literacy and inform interventions that strengthen educational opportunities and developmental outcomes. The report therefore provides useful evidence for advancing child-centred approaches to learning and development.

This summary report explores reading habits, attitudes and experiences among South African teenagers. The findings are relevant to the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), particularly its focus on children’s development, learning and wellbeing. Understanding teenagers’ engagement with reading can help identify barriers to literacy and inform interventions that strengthen educational opportunities and developmental outcomes. The report therefore provides useful evidence for advancing child-centred approaches to learning and development.

This article explores what happens when young people lose confidence in their future, highlighting how limited opportunities, inequality and social conditions can shape young people’s aspirations, wellbeing and engagement with society. These concerns connect strongly with NSAAC, particularly its emphasis on creating conditions that support children’s development, participation, protection and prospects for a better future. The article underscores the importance of addressing structural barriers while strengthening opportunities for young people to thrive.

This article explores what happens when young people lose confidence in their future, highlighting how limited opportunities, inequality and social conditions can shape young people’s aspirations, wellbeing and engagement with society. These concerns connect strongly with NSAAC, particularly its emphasis on creating conditions that support children’s development, participation, protection and prospects for a better future. The article underscores the importance of addressing structural barriers while strengthening opportunities for young people to thrive.

This is opinion article explores how South African teenagers develop resilient identities through relationships, supportive environments, and access to opportunities rather than through individual effort alone. It highlights the effects of poverty, violence, exclusion, substance abuse, and inadequate services on young people, aligning closely with NSAAC’s priority of strengthening adolescent identity, agency, connectedness, and wellbeing.

This is opinion article explores how South African teenagers develop resilient identities through relationships, supportive environments, and access to opportunities rather than through individual effort alone. It highlights the effects of poverty, violence, exclusion, substance abuse, and inadequate services on young people, aligning closely with NSAAC’s priority of strengthening adolescent identity, agency, connectedness, and wellbeing.