Vision 2020 - World Health Organization

APPROACHES TO PREVENTION OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
To achieve the goals of the global initiative, the parties were assigned different areas of work in accordance
with their mandate or demonstrated competence. Thus, IAPB is responsible mainly for resource
mobilization, public relations and mobilizing its member organizations. On the basis of an Executive
Board document (EB 105/3), entitled A corporate strategy for the WHO secretariat, issued in 2000,
which sets out specifi c strategic directions and core functions for WHO departments and teams, WHO
is primarily responsible for providing technical assistance at national and regional levels in planning
eye health care from a public health perspective, data collection and monitoring, dissemination of data
for planning and developing a disease control strategy. Both parties contribute at country and regional
level according to their mandate and expertise in implementing the global initiative, human resource
and infrastructure development and optimal use of available resources.
In addition, the following mechanisms are available for coordinating and implementing prevention of
blindness:
• Initiatives and alliances for the control of specifi c diseases, such as trachoma and onchocerciasis,
can serve as coordinating centres for the activities of organizations and individuals working in the
same fi eld.
• Technical working groups have been established for each of the diseases identifi ed by VISION 2020
as priorities and for human resource development and infrastructure and technology. These groups
suggest programme approaches to achieve the elimination of avoidable blindness.
• WHO collaborating centres for the prevention of blindness are involved in training and research for
the prevention of blindness, according to a joint work plan.
• Direct offi cial relations between some nongovernmental development organizations and WHO
imply an agreed joint work plan.
3.3 WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTIONS ON PREVENTION OF
BLINDNESS
A number of World Health Assembly resolutions refer to prevention of blindness. The two most recent
ones are the result of advocacy by the partners in VISION 2020.
In 2003, WHO Member States signalled in WHA Resolution 56.26 (Annex I) their commitment to:
• set up, no later than 2005, a national VISION 2020 plan in partnership with WHO in collaboration
with nongovernmental organizations and the private sector;
• establish a national coordinating committee for VISION 2020 to help develop and implement the
plan;
• commence implementation of such plans by 2007;
• include in their plans effective monitoring and information systems with the aim of showing a
reduction in the extent of avoidable blindness by 2010; and
• support the mobilization of resources for eliminating avoidable blindness.
In 2006, World Health Assembly Resolution WHA 59.25 (Annex II) gave renewed support and momentum
for this effort, urging Member States to:
• provide support for VISION 2020 plans by mobilizing domestic funding;
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