A life-changing collaboration between three organizations is set to continue expanding access to critical vision care for underserved communities in Antigua and Barbuda, after partners confirmed the extension of their groundbreaking “Future Bright with the Gift of Sight Eye Care Initiative”. The program, a joint venture between the Antigua-based Halo Foundation and local healthcare provider Progressive Vision, has been made possible for three consecutive years through major funding and support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Antigua and Barbuda.
From its launch, the initiative has centered on a core, equity-driven mission: to eliminate financial barriers that prevent vulnerable members of society from accessing the basic eye health services they need. For many low-income families, elderly residents, and children across the country, comprehensive eye exams and prescription eyewear have long been out of reach due to cost. Through the partnership, those gaps are being closed.
To date, the program has delivered free, full eye examinations and custom prescription eyeglasses to more than 300 people, spanning children, elderly citizens, and other marginalized groups that face disproportionate barriers to healthcare. Each recipient has gained not just clearer vision, but improved access to education, work, and daily quality of life that many take for granted.
Her Excellency Lady Williams, founder and president of the Halo Foundation, shared deep gratitude for the ongoing commitment from all partners, highlighting the Swiss Embassy’s foundational role in the initiative’s success. “We are endlessly grateful to the Embassy of Switzerland for recognizing the transformative impact of this work and choosing to invest in the health and wellbeing of the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Williams said.
The Halo Foundation also extended formal recognition to Progressive Vision’s lead clinician Dr. Salem Zreibi and his entire care team, whose on-the-ground professional expertise has been central to the program’s impact. Their consistent dedication to delivering patient-centered, compassionate care has ensured that every person served through the initiative receives the high-quality treatment they deserve, laying the groundwork for years of continued success as the program enters its third year of operations.