WHO calls to action on blindness

The global initiative Vision2020: Right to Sight has received a major boost following the endorsement of the WHO Action Plan for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment by the 62nd World Health Assembly, the WHO governing body.

WHO team leader for Prevention of Blindness & Deafness, Dr. Ivo Kocur said: “Adoption of the Action Plan by the WHA is a major accomplishment and will provide additional unprecedented support to VISION 2020 and our joint efforts to improve eye health internationally.”>

The plan aims to expand the efforts made by member states, WHO and international partners in Vision 2020 to help prevent blindness and visual impairment by the development of comprehensive eye health programmes at national & sub-national levels. It sets out current experience, draws on the recognised achievements and deals with gaps in implementing activities over the past decades.

OTEurope is fully supportive of the work of Vision2020 and is looking forward to highlighting more of its work over the coming months.

The current Action Plan can be downloaded from the WHO website here and full coverage of the 62nd World Health Assembly is available online