1. 2 why blindness prevention needs our attention
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Why blindness prevention Why blindness prevention needs our attentionneeds our attention
Why blindness prevention Why blindness prevention needs our attentionneeds our attention
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The Basics - A Global ProblemThe Basics - A Global ProblemThe Basics - A Global ProblemThe Basics - A Global Problem 161 million visually impaired161 million visually impaired
37 million blind37 million blind
75% of blindness is avoidable -75% of blindness is avoidable -treatable or preventable, in a cost-treatable or preventable, in a cost-effective mannereffective manner
Nine in 10 blind persons live in low Nine in 10 blind persons live in low income countriesincome countries
161 million visually impaired161 million visually impaired
37 million blind37 million blind
75% of blindness is avoidable -75% of blindness is avoidable -treatable or preventable, in a cost-treatable or preventable, in a cost-effective mannereffective manner
Nine in 10 blind persons live in low Nine in 10 blind persons live in low income countriesincome countries
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Higher costs of treating and managing Higher costs of treating and managing diseases at a late stagediseases at a late stage
Lost earnings for the visually impaired and Lost earnings for the visually impaired and caregiverscaregivers
Lower quality of life in social, economic, Lower quality of life in social, economic, health and cultural termshealth and cultural terms
Annual global impact of unaccommodated Annual global impact of unaccommodated blindness and low vision at nearly $42 billionblindness and low vision at nearly $42 billion
Higher costs of treating and managing Higher costs of treating and managing diseases at a late stagediseases at a late stage
Lost earnings for the visually impaired and Lost earnings for the visually impaired and caregiverscaregivers
Lower quality of life in social, economic, Lower quality of life in social, economic, health and cultural termshealth and cultural terms
Annual global impact of unaccommodated Annual global impact of unaccommodated blindness and low vision at nearly $42 billionblindness and low vision at nearly $42 billion
A Costly ProblemA Costly ProblemA Costly ProblemA Costly Problem
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A Containable ProblemA Containable ProblemA Containable ProblemA Containable Problem
Of the 37 million blind worldwide, 17 Of the 37 million blind worldwide, 17 million could be cured by a 15-minute, million could be cured by a 15-minute, 50-dollar cataract operation with a 98% 50-dollar cataract operation with a 98% success ratesuccess rate
Blindness is not limited by age, socio-Blindness is not limited by age, socio-economic status or gendereconomic status or gender
Of the 37 million blind worldwide, 17 Of the 37 million blind worldwide, 17 million could be cured by a 15-minute, million could be cured by a 15-minute, 50-dollar cataract operation with a 98% 50-dollar cataract operation with a 98% success ratesuccess rate
Blindness is not limited by age, socio-Blindness is not limited by age, socio-economic status or gendereconomic status or gender
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A Containable ProblemA Containable ProblemA Containable ProblemA Containable Problem
Some blinding diseases and Some blinding diseases and conditions result from poor conditions result from poor sanitation and inadequate nutritionsanitation and inadequate nutrition
The leading causes of avoidable The leading causes of avoidable blindness are cataract, refractive blindness are cataract, refractive error, onchocerciasis, trachoma and error, onchocerciasis, trachoma and vitamin-A deficiencyvitamin-A deficiency
Some blinding diseases and Some blinding diseases and conditions result from poor conditions result from poor sanitation and inadequate nutritionsanitation and inadequate nutrition
The leading causes of avoidable The leading causes of avoidable blindness are cataract, refractive blindness are cataract, refractive error, onchocerciasis, trachoma and error, onchocerciasis, trachoma and vitamin-A deficiencyvitamin-A deficiency
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Reducing blindness is linked to Reducing blindness is linked to improving access to educational and improving access to educational and employment opportunitiesemployment opportunities
Reducing blindness alleviates household, Reducing blindness alleviates household, community and national povertycommunity and national poverty
Reducing blindness is linked to Reducing blindness is linked to improving access to educational and improving access to educational and employment opportunitiesemployment opportunities
Reducing blindness alleviates household, Reducing blindness alleviates household, community and national povertycommunity and national poverty
The ImperativesThe ImperativesThe ImperativesThe Imperatives
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The right to sight is an essential The right to sight is an essential component of national development component of national development and poverty alleviationand poverty alleviation
Productivity gains from reducing Productivity gains from reducing visual disability would amount to a visual disability would amount to a saving of US$223 billion over 20 yearssaving of US$223 billion over 20 years
The right to sight is an essential The right to sight is an essential component of national development component of national development and poverty alleviationand poverty alleviation
Productivity gains from reducing Productivity gains from reducing visual disability would amount to a visual disability would amount to a saving of US$223 billion over 20 yearssaving of US$223 billion over 20 years
The ImperativesThe ImperativesThe ImperativesThe Imperatives
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The Demonstrated ImpactThe Demonstrated ImpactThe Demonstrated ImpactThe Demonstrated Impact
An Australian survey showed thatAn Australian survey showed that
Vision impairment and blindness cost the country Vision impairment and blindness cost the country $9.85 billion in 2004 and affected nearly 500,000 $9.85 billion in 2004 and affected nearly 500,000 AustraliansAustralians
Interventions over the lifetime of those impacted Interventions over the lifetime of those impacted would lead to savings of more than $650 million in would lead to savings of more than $650 million in present valuepresent value
Quality of life gains would accumulate to $7.7 Quality of life gains would accumulate to $7.7 billion over the lifetime of populationsbillion over the lifetime of populations
An Australian survey showed thatAn Australian survey showed that
Vision impairment and blindness cost the country Vision impairment and blindness cost the country $9.85 billion in 2004 and affected nearly 500,000 $9.85 billion in 2004 and affected nearly 500,000 AustraliansAustralians
Interventions over the lifetime of those impacted Interventions over the lifetime of those impacted would lead to savings of more than $650 million in would lead to savings of more than $650 million in present valuepresent value
Quality of life gains would accumulate to $7.7 Quality of life gains would accumulate to $7.7 billion over the lifetime of populationsbillion over the lifetime of populations
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The Demonstrated ImpactThe Demonstrated ImpactThe Demonstrated ImpactThe Demonstrated Impact
The gains would depend on an The gains would depend on an investment of just 0.23% of the total investment of just 0.23% of the total health spend and 9.9% of the spend health spend and 9.9% of the spend on vision disorders on vision disorders
The gains would depend on an The gains would depend on an investment of just 0.23% of the total investment of just 0.23% of the total health spend and 9.9% of the spend health spend and 9.9% of the spend on vision disorders on vision disorders
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The Broader ImplicationsThe Broader ImplicationsThe Broader ImplicationsThe Broader ImplicationsBlindness prevention is a step toward achieving the Blindness prevention is a step toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in Millennium Development Goals, particularly in terms ofterms of
Poverty eradicationPoverty eradication
Universalisation of primary educationUniversalisation of primary education
Reducing child mortalityReducing child mortality
Combating chronic and life-threatening Combating chronic and life-threatening diseasesdiseases
Improving access to employment opportunitiesImproving access to employment opportunities
Blindness prevention is a step toward achieving the Blindness prevention is a step toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in Millennium Development Goals, particularly in terms ofterms of
Poverty eradicationPoverty eradication
Universalisation of primary educationUniversalisation of primary education
Reducing child mortalityReducing child mortality
Combating chronic and life-threatening Combating chronic and life-threatening diseasesdiseases
Improving access to employment opportunitiesImproving access to employment opportunities
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Partnerships between eye care agencies, professional Partnerships between eye care agencies, professional bodies and government institutionsbodies and government institutions
Building capacity in human resources and Building capacity in human resources and infrastructure within the health care delivery systeminfrastructure within the health care delivery system
Developing preventive and curative eye health Developing preventive and curative eye health services as part of general health care at primary, services as part of general health care at primary, secondary and tertiary levelssecondary and tertiary levels
Committing to the idea vision loss can and must be Committing to the idea vision loss can and must be prevented through high quality, sustainable and prevented through high quality, sustainable and equitable services equitable services
Partnerships between eye care agencies, professional Partnerships between eye care agencies, professional bodies and government institutionsbodies and government institutions
Building capacity in human resources and Building capacity in human resources and infrastructure within the health care delivery systeminfrastructure within the health care delivery system
Developing preventive and curative eye health Developing preventive and curative eye health services as part of general health care at primary, services as part of general health care at primary, secondary and tertiary levelssecondary and tertiary levels
Committing to the idea vision loss can and must be Committing to the idea vision loss can and must be prevented through high quality, sustainable and prevented through high quality, sustainable and equitable services equitable services
The ProcessThe ProcessThe ProcessThe Process
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The Gains Thus FarThe Gains Thus FarThe Gains Thus FarThe Gains Thus FarVISION 2020: The Right to Sight - a productive VISION 2020: The Right to Sight - a productive partnership between IAPB and WHOpartnership between IAPB and WHO
Significant gains in disease controlSignificant gains in disease control
An enhanced network of training opportunitiesAn enhanced network of training opportunities
A focus on permanent infrastructure creationA focus on permanent infrastructure creation
Increased awareness of blindness as an issue that Increased awareness of blindness as an issue that has many ramificationshas many ramifications
Successful service delivery models incorporating Successful service delivery models incorporating sustainability, excellence and equitysustainability, excellence and equity
VISION 2020: The Right to Sight - a productive VISION 2020: The Right to Sight - a productive partnership between IAPB and WHOpartnership between IAPB and WHO
Significant gains in disease controlSignificant gains in disease control
An enhanced network of training opportunitiesAn enhanced network of training opportunities
A focus on permanent infrastructure creationA focus on permanent infrastructure creation
Increased awareness of blindness as an issue that Increased awareness of blindness as an issue that has many ramificationshas many ramifications
Successful service delivery models incorporating Successful service delivery models incorporating sustainability, excellence and equitysustainability, excellence and equity
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Acceptance from more governments to Acceptance from more governments to the idea that blindness prevention is the idea that blindness prevention is crucial to human developmentcrucial to human development
Greater government commitment in Greater government commitment in terms of financial and human resources terms of financial and human resources
To build training programmesTo build training programmes
To develop infrastructureTo develop infrastructure
To incorporate eye care into primary To incorporate eye care into primary health carehealth care
Acceptance from more governments to Acceptance from more governments to the idea that blindness prevention is the idea that blindness prevention is crucial to human developmentcrucial to human development
Greater government commitment in Greater government commitment in terms of financial and human resources terms of financial and human resources
To build training programmesTo build training programmes
To develop infrastructureTo develop infrastructure
To incorporate eye care into primary To incorporate eye care into primary health carehealth care
The GapsThe GapsThe GapsThe Gaps
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Stepping ahead: WHA, May 2006Stepping ahead: WHA, May 2006
Vote in favour of EB draft resolution 117.R4Vote in favour of EB draft resolution 117.R4 Support the inclusion of prevention of blindness in the Support the inclusion of prevention of blindness in the
WHO’s medium term strategic plan for 2008-2013 WHO’s medium term strategic plan for 2008-2013 and its biennial programme budget for 2008-2009and its biennial programme budget for 2008-2009
Support the inclusion of prevention of blindness in Support the inclusion of prevention of blindness in WHO’s 11th General Plan of WorkWHO’s 11th General Plan of Work
Vote in favour of EB draft resolution 117.R4Vote in favour of EB draft resolution 117.R4 Support the inclusion of prevention of blindness in the Support the inclusion of prevention of blindness in the
WHO’s medium term strategic plan for 2008-2013 WHO’s medium term strategic plan for 2008-2013 and its biennial programme budget for 2008-2009and its biennial programme budget for 2008-2009
Support the inclusion of prevention of blindness in Support the inclusion of prevention of blindness in WHO’s 11th General Plan of WorkWHO’s 11th General Plan of Work
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To raise the visibility of blindness To raise the visibility of blindness prevention prevention
To encourage the buy-in of governmentsTo encourage the buy-in of governments
To enhance the networks already created To enhance the networks already created by VISION 2020by VISION 2020
To move beyond the recognition To move beyond the recognition achieved to WHA 56.26 to realise the achieved to WHA 56.26 to realise the dream of a universal Right to Sightdream of a universal Right to Sight
To raise the visibility of blindness To raise the visibility of blindness prevention prevention
To encourage the buy-in of governmentsTo encourage the buy-in of governments
To enhance the networks already created To enhance the networks already created by VISION 2020by VISION 2020
To move beyond the recognition To move beyond the recognition achieved to WHA 56.26 to realise the achieved to WHA 56.26 to realise the dream of a universal Right to Sightdream of a universal Right to Sight
Leveraging the position of WHOLeveraging the position of WHOLeveraging the position of WHOLeveraging the position of WHO
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Investing in Blindness Investing in Blindness Prevention isPrevention is
Investing in Blindness Investing in Blindness Prevention isPrevention is
An investment in An investment in
life life
livelihoodslivelihoods
learninglearning
livingliving
An investment in An investment in
life life
livelihoodslivelihoods
learninglearning
livingliving
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Gullapalli N RaoGullapalli N RaoInternational Agency for the International Agency for the
Prevention of BlindnessPrevention of Blindness
Gullapalli N RaoGullapalli N RaoInternational Agency for the International Agency for the
Prevention of BlindnessPrevention of Blindness