The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Country Office for Nepal, and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), hosted the national launch program of the World Report on Vision.
Dr Roshan Pokharel, Acting Secretary at the MoHP, unveiled the report, an important document produced at the request of Member States during a side event to the 70th World Health Assembly, and with the support of experts from around the world. Dr Guna Raj Lohani, Chief of Policy Planning and Monitoring Division, MoHP, described the report’s objectives and the way forward for integrated people-centered eyecare services.
The report provides evidence on the magnitude of eye conditions and vision impairment globally, draws attention to effective strategies to address eye care, and offers recommendations for action to improve eye care services worldwide.
Among others, it proposes stronger integration of eye care within the national health services including at the primary healthcare level to ensure that the eye care needs of more people are addressed, including through prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation.
The report is directed at ministries of health, development agencies, civil society organizations and researchers, practitioners and policymakers from the field of eye care.
“Nepal has achieved remarkable success in reducing blindness. In 2018, the country became the first in the Southeast Asia Region to achieve the status of trachoma elimination. This is a tremendous achievement, and we are proud to partner with the Ministry of Health and Population, and other concerned stakeholders in this journey,” said Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal.
During the program, the MoHP reiterated its commitment to integrate eye health into the mainstream health system and plan in Nepal. Currently, the MoHP is working on developing a National Eye Health Strategy that will provide a policy and programmatic framework for integrating eye care within the umbrella of Universal Health Coverage.
The event saw participation from high-level officials at the MoHP: Dr Guna Raj Lohani and Dr Bikash Devkota; Dr Rajesh Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal; Dr Razia Pendse, Director, Healthier Population and Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO); Dr Patanjali Nayar, Regional Adviser, Disability, Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation, WHO SEARO; Dr Silvio Paolo Mariotti, Senior Medical Officer, Eye and Vision Care team, WHO Headquarters; Stuart Keel, technical officer, Eye and Vision Care team, WHO Headquarters; Jessica Lawrence, Head of Advocacy, International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB); Dr Peter Holland, CEO at IAPB; Dr Sanduk Ruit, Founder and Executive Director, Tilganga Institute of Medicine; Dr Shailesh Kumar Mishra (Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh); and Dr Yuddha Sapkota (IAPB).
You can read the full report here.