Saturday June 14

Global blindness is a serious public health problem. The recognition of this fact lead to the evolution of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight the Global Initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness by the year 2020. Three key strategic approaches have been identified, namely, Disease Control, Human Resource Development and Infrastructure and Technology Development. Since nearly 75 percent of the blindness is avoidable and 90 percent of the problem is in developing countries, there is a need to identify gaps and fill them to make the necessary impact. Advocacy, Resource Mobilization and a coordinated effort are required to make progress. This has been initiated at the global level with good success. Visible progress is reflected by a favorable World Health Assembly Resolution (WHA 59.25) making Prevention of Blindness as a priority Health Care area for WHO, significant recognition of the VISION 2020 brand globally, substantial increase in the funding of International NGOs and some National Governments and much better coordination among groups involved in this effort. WHO reported a reduction in the number of blind to 37 million in 2002 from a figure of 45 million in 1995 However, there is still a huge challenge with increasing prevalence of life style and life span associated problems along with already existing problems. An Infrastructure Model that has been developed by our group will be presented. This addresses the delivery of eye care employing the care principles of Quality, Equity, Sustainability, Team Approach and Community Participation. This model can also address all the problems identified as primary areas for VISION 2020. Replication of this and other successful models on a large scale is needed to accomplish the aspiration of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight.