Tackling Eye Health: Fred Hollows Foundation Partners with AFL Northern Territory
The Fred Hollows Foundation today announced a 12 month partnership with AFL Northern Territory to help prevent unnecessary blindness by promoting eye health.
Through the partnership, The Foundation will focus on promoting women’s health and wellbeing, including eye health, and support the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in sport.
The Foundation will begin by presenting this weekend’s important women’s round at TIO Stadium.
Women’s participation in the Northern Territory Football League has grown exponentially in recent years.
Manager of The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Indigenous Australia Program, Jaki Adams- Barton, said The Foundation was pleased to support the TIO NTFL Women’s Round.
“The Foundation is carrying on the work of the late Professor Fred Hollows, working to improve the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, including eyesight,” Ms Adams-Barton said.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are still six times more likely than other Australians to go blind, but 94% of this vision loss is preventable or treatable.
“This is why early detection, timely treatment, a healthy lifestyle, good nutrition, physical activity and regular eye checks are so important in reducing the risk of avoidable blindness.
“The talented women already playing in the TIO NTFL are great role models and will hopefully encourage even more girls and women to sign up.”
AFLNT competition manager Darryl Griffiths said there had been a significant increase in the numbers of women participating in the game, across all levels.
“The women’s competition has already grown from six teams in 2012-13 to eight teams in 2013-14,” Mr Griffiths said.
“Highlights in the Territory over the past few years include Sissy Dunn of Alice Springs being drafted to the Melbourne Demons and Abbey Holmes booting 100 goals—the first feat of its kind anywhere in Australia.”
The Fred Hollows Foundation is an international development organisation focusing on blindness prevention and Indigenous Australian health. It is inspired by the life and work of Professor Fred Hollows, an internationally-acclaimed eye surgeon and an activist for social justice who championed the right of all people to high quality and affordable eye care and good health. The Foundation continues that work, as partners and leaders, in remote and underserviced communities in the Northern Territory, the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields regions of Western Australia, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia, western NSW and south-east Queensland.