Senate debates

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Questions on Notice

Aid Program (Question No. 1252)

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 22 September 2011:

Since 24 November 2007, what amount of funding has been spent on eye screening of primary school children (ages 5 to 12 years) in the Asia-Pacific region.

Photo of Stephen ConroyStephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | | Hansard source

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Since 24 November 2007, about $55 million has been spent on eye health in the Asia-Pacific region. This has included funding for eye screening for over 150,000 school aged children in Cambodia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Solomon Islands and Vietnam.

Specific age disaggregated data is not available on a financial basis for all of the countries in which Australia provides funding for avoidable blindness.