VISION 2020: The Right to Sight

ADVOCACY in Action

WORKING TOGETHER TO ELIMINATE AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight is the

global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness,

a joint programme of the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, together with its global membership of NGOs, professional bodies, institutions & corporations. 

Working together to eliminate avoidable blindness

VISION 2020 & IAPB

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight• Launched 1999 • Joint programme of IAPB and World Health Organization (WHO)• Facilitating development & implementation of national eye care plans• Collaboration between private organisations & public (government) agencies

International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)• Founded 1975• Umbrella organisation leading global efforts for the prevention of blindness• Over100 members:

• 80+ International NGDOs,

• Global professional peak bodies – optometry & ophthalmology

• World-leading academic & medical institutions

• Concerned corporations & foundations

• World Blind Union• Mobilising resources; Advocacy & awareness; Facilitating programmes

VISION 2020 Advocacy With Governments

• VISION 2020 workshops – reaching 150 countries

• National prevention of blindness committees established in 118 countries

• National eye care plans in 104 countries

• Recent examples: • Indian government commitment of

USD$265m

• Pakistani government committed $50m

• Australian government commitment of at least AUD$45m

IAPB Global Advocacy

• World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolutions 56.26 & 59.25, urging all WHO Member states to formulate integrated & sustainable national eye health plans

• WHO Mid-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2008-13 visual impairment is now specifically mentioned under Strategic Objective #3

• WHO Action Plan for Prevention of Blindness & Visual Impairment – adopted by World Health Assembly, 2009

• Thanks to advocacy of IAPB & members, all 193 WHO member states are formally committed to investing in eye care for their populations

VISION2020.org – global facts, network & interaction