Vision 2020 - World Health Organization

VISION 2020 GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR THE ELIMINATION OF AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS: ACTION PLAN 2006–2011
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was projected to rise to only US$ 58 billion in 2020, equivalent to an overall global saving over 20
years of US$ 223 billion.
Socioeconomic studies have shown that the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness promote and
accelerate progress towards a broader global development agenda, such as the Millennium Development
Goals (Annex III). The direct links between the activities of VISION 2020 and human social and economic
development must be strongly expressed and disseminated to decision-makers at all levels.
1.4 ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES
Since its launch, more than 100 Member States have been directly involved in the activities of VISION
2020. The participation of local eye health-care experts and planners in VISION 2020 workshops
has increased awareness about public health concepts in eye care, and Member States have been
encouraged to constitute national VISION 2020 committees in order to assess local needs, develop
national action plans and facilitate their implementation, monitoring and periodic assessment (Annex
IV). It is important that societies be made aware of known, well-tested, cost-effective interventions for
preventing avoidable visual loss. Partner organizations of VISION 2020 have been active in encouraging
the integration of comprehensive eye-care services into national health-care systems, by:
• increasing political commitment to the prevention of visual impairment;
• increasing professional commitment to the prevention of visual impairment;
• increasing the provision of high-quality, sustainable eye care;
• increasing public awareness and use of eye health-care services; and
• encouraging the commitment and support of nongovernmental organizations and the private
sector.
Impressive successes in the prevention of blindness (for example in Gambia, India, Morocco, Nepal,
Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) testify to the commitment of local VISION 2020 partners and
demonstrate the impact and potential of this global initiative.
The initiative does not, however, operate in a static environment. As the world’s population continues
to change, so do the extent, causes and distribution of blindness and visual impairment. As more,
better data become available from population-based studies, more accurate estimates can be made
of the extent of the problem and the patterns of causes in different countries and regions, adding to
the agenda of VISION 2020. As the prevalence of noncommunicable chronic eye diseases continues
to grow substantially, global disparities in the availability of eye health-care services will continue
to obstruct the prevention and control of avoidable blindness and low vision in the most populated,
poorest parts of the world. To these challenges must be added the entrenched disparities in the allocation
and availability of human and fi nancial resources. Without the resources needed to implement
national VISION 2020 plans for the prevention of blindness, there is a real danger that the momentum
that has been built to eliminate avoidable blindness will be lost, which would impede opportunities
to scale-up comprehensive, sustainable eye-care services as part of strengthened health systems.
Provision of services for underserved groups such as the poor, ethnic minorities and women is linked
to the development, adoption and implementation of adequate health-care policies.
These are only some of the issues facing the VISION 2020 initiative. Despite recent achievements in
the prevention and control of avoidable blindness and low vision, considerable challenges remain that
will require sustained, imaginative, concerted action. The achievements and limitations to date and
strategies and recommendations for further implementation are described in detail in the following
sections.