Greetings on this momentous occasion of World Sight Day, a day when the global eye health community unites to raise awareness of the importance of not taking vision for granted and for all people to look after their eyes.
Each year, on the second Thursday of October, the eye health community uses World Sight Day to promote eye health messages not only to the public, but also to decision-makers and service providers.
This year, on October 12, 2023, we mark World Sight Day with a unique focus – the importance of eye care in the workplace. No matter where you are or what job you do, it is important to prioritize and protect your eye health at work. This includes everything, from avoiding accidents in the workplace, which are too often caused by or lead to poor vision, to productivity which is greatly improved when the eye health of workers is made a priority.
Vision loss is insidious, often robbing individuals of their sight before they even realize it. It is imperative that we prioritize eye health alongside other essential health interventions to ensure that problems can be diagnosed, treated, and, in many cases, cured.
To facilitate better screening, WHO has developed a mobile application ‘WHO eyes’ that would enable individuals to check their vision, without the need for eye care provider. This free app will further support eye screening at the primary health care level, in the community or the workplace where eye professionals are scarce.
Eye care and rehabilitation services should be accessible, inclusive, and affordable to everyone, regardless of their location or socio-economic status. People must understand the importance of caring for their own eye health and demand access to services, free from any social stigma. Then only we can address the needs of the 2.2 billion people who suffer from vision impairment or blindness across the globe, of which 30% of them live in our region.
While World Sight Day is celebrated globally, I am proud to share that the WHO South-East Asia Region has yet again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to accelerating vision and eye care services throughout the region.
Our journey towards comprehensive eye care in the region took a giant leap during the High-Level meeting on Integrated Eye Health held in Hyderabad in February 2023. The launch of the Action Plan for Integrated People-Centered Eye Care in South-East Asia 2022-2030 during this meeting ignited the momentum to strengthen our eye health care strategy in alignment with global and regional initiatives. Subsequent the launch of the Regional Action Plan, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India (North Eastern States) have already conducted stakeholder meetings to review their respective eye health care situations and are in the process of developing integrated, people-centered eye care Action Plans.
There is no time to waste. On World Sight Day, WHO reaffirms its commitment to supporting all Member States, partners, and communities in adapting and implementing the Regional Action Plan. Together, we must accelerate towards our regional and global eye health targets. It is our collective duty to achieve universal eye health coverage, creating a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable South-East Asia Region for All.