Rural areas need more awareness on avoidable blindness, Dr. C. Laxma Reddy, Minister for Health, Govt of TS

Hyderabad, October 13, 2016: Dr. C. Laxma Reddy, Health Minister of Govt of Telangana to flagged off “Walk for Vision” here in city Hyderabad at KBR Park today morning to promote eye health. The walk was organised as part of Vision 2020, a global initiative that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020

The walk was organised on the occasion of World Sight Day, which is observed in over 60 countries across the world around a universal theme. This year’s theme is ‘Stronger Together’

Nearly 1000 people have participated in the walk.

The aim of the walk was to create awareness on avoidable blindness among the community as 80% of blindness is avoidable. Prevention and treatment of vision loss are among the most cost-effective and successful of all health interventions.

Flagging off the awareness walk, Shri C. Laxma Reddy said that all efforts should be made to eliminate avoidable blindness by year 2020. Encouraging the holding of such awareness walks, he said, “Awareness walks to educate masses on eye care should also be held in rural areas where it is more needed.”

India shoulders the second highest number of visual impairment in the world at 62 million: 8 million cases of blindness and 54 million cases of low vision. However, 80 percent of blindness is preventable. Prevention and treatment of vision loss are among the most cost-effective and successful of all health interventions.

Dr Promila Gupta, Deputy Director General, National Programme for Control of Blindness, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India who also graced the walk said, “‘I’ in illness can be replaced by ‘we’ in wellness if all work as a team”. She said, “ To eliminate avoidable blindness from the country, the government requires the support of eye care fraternity in the country,”

Talking on the significance of the theme, Dr T P Das, Regional Chair, South East Asia, International Agency for Prevention of Blindness and Vice Chair, LVPEI elaborates, “Eyecare today needs divergent sections of the society, the care givers, the eye care industry and the policy makers. Together, we could build a self-sustainable system of affordable care that is accessible to all: “Stronger Together."

“If we have to achieve eliminating avoidable blindness, it is vital for all groups who are concerned with eye health - ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses, donors, patients, hospitals and the government to join hands and VISION 2020 – INDIA is doing just that, bringing all stakeholders together on a common platform for a event like this,” says Phanindra Babu Nukella, CEO, VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – INDIA.

Such awareness walks help to raise the importance of eye health in the minds of general community and sensitize. Also, this opportunity can be utilised to raise the profile of eye health and advocate with the government for improved resource allocation,” said R Govind Hari, South Zone Representative of VISION 2020 – INDIA.

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – INDIA organised the walk in partnership with organisations like LV Prasad Eye Institute, Pushpagiri Vitreo Retinal Eye Institute. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Students, Hyderabad Opththalmic Society Members, LVPEI Optometry School students, NPCB officials, NCC cadets, Vasan Eye Bank & Training Center, Youngistan.

VISION 2020 is a global initiative that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – India is a national forum for eliminating avoidable blindness by year 2020. It is a key driver of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) joint global initiative for eliminating avoidable blindness.

VISION 2020—India has been observing World Sight Day(WSD) every second Thursday in October.

WSD is an International day of awareness, held annually. It is an important day and platform for advocacy and communications opportunity for the eye health community. WSD is observed around the world by the partners involved in preventing visual impairment or restoring sight. The WSD was observed in the past at various places and now it will be observed in Hyderabad. A two kilometres walk will be held.

Earlier on Thursday night, The partnership seminar on this year’s theme “Stronger Together” was held at Hotel Taj Banjara as a prelude to the walk with a panel of 7 members(NGO, Optometry, PPP, GoI, State Govt. INGO and corporate with CSR) shared their valuable perspectives on the spirit of partnership and thereby further encourage the motivation and commitment of eye care fraternity to achieve the mission of eliminating avoidable blindness in the country.

The notable among these speakers include: Dr. Promilla Gupta, Dy. Director General-NPCB, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India, Dr. Sara Varughese, President of Vision 2020 India, Dr. Taraprasad Das, Vice-Chair, LVPE Institute-Hyderabad, Regional Chair-SEAR IAPB; Dr. GVS Murthy, Director of IIPH and others.

200 participants from the fraternity attended the seminar, informed R.Govind Hari.

A Comic Book, Wear Spectacles and stay wise was launched on the occasion.