New York
UN
Deputy Secretary-General's video message at Love Your Eyes: A Celebration of World Sight Day & the UN Resolution on Vision for All
Statements | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General
Statements | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General
Watch the video: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/ondemand/2942063_MSG+DSG+AMINA+MOHAMMED+WORLD+SIGHT+DAY+30+SEP+22.mp4
Dear Friends,
This World Sight Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate progress in the field of eye care, in global public health and development agendas.
Globally, more than 2 billion people are blind or visually impaired.
This figure represents the tip of the iceberg – eye conditions are universal, and many of us will experience at least one eye condition that requires care.
The General Assembly resolution on vision, adopted last year, recognizes that advances in eye health, as well as improved vision and optimized functional ability for persons who are blind or visually impaired, can directly contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, including in the areas of employment, education and economic productivity.
The resolution reinforces another critical aspect: consulting persons who are blind or visually impaired, particularly women and girls, in eyecare planning and policy making processes.
It is encouraging to see the commitment of Member States to this agenda.
But the repercussions of COVID-19 could reverse the hard-earned gains made in the eyecare sector – including disruption of essential services.
Strengthening the delivery of eye care – within universal healthcare – must be a key priority of our decade.
The World Health Organization has launched a series of tools to provide practical guidance to support countries in translating these global commitments into action.
Tomorrow, WHO will launch the first report on effective coverage of eye care, a reference point to monitor progress towards 2030 global targets and outlining the necessary efforts ahead.
Two new global 2030 targets for eye care adopted by the World Health Assembly last year will be considered by the Statistical Commission in 2025 for inclusion in the global indicator framework for the SDGs.
This provides us with a unique opportunity to cement eye care in the broader global health and development agendas.
However, this will only be possible with the support and engagement of Member States.
We must also strengthen cross-sector partnerships – with education, social services, labor and the private sector to improve eye health for all.
Let us work together, on World Sight Day and every day, towards a world where everyone can fulfil their potential and live their lives on an equal basis with others.
***
Dear Friends,
This World Sight Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate progress in the field of eye care, in global public health and development agendas.
Globally, more than 2 billion people are blind or visually impaired.
This figure represents the tip of the iceberg – eye conditions are universal, and many of us will experience at least one eye condition that requires care.
The General Assembly resolution on vision, adopted last year, recognizes that advances in eye health, as well as improved vision and optimized functional ability for persons who are blind or visually impaired, can directly contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, including in the areas of employment, education and economic productivity.
The resolution reinforces another critical aspect: consulting persons who are blind or visually impaired, particularly women and girls, in eyecare planning and policy making processes.
It is encouraging to see the commitment of Member States to this agenda.
But the repercussions of COVID-19 could reverse the hard-earned gains made in the eyecare sector – including disruption of essential services.
Strengthening the delivery of eye care – within universal healthcare – must be a key priority of our decade.
The World Health Organization has launched a series of tools to provide practical guidance to support countries in translating these global commitments into action.
Tomorrow, WHO will launch the first report on effective coverage of eye care, a reference point to monitor progress towards 2030 global targets and outlining the necessary efforts ahead.
Two new global 2030 targets for eye care adopted by the World Health Assembly last year will be considered by the Statistical Commission in 2025 for inclusion in the global indicator framework for the SDGs.
This provides us with a unique opportunity to cement eye care in the broader global health and development agendas.
However, this will only be possible with the support and engagement of Member States.
We must also strengthen cross-sector partnerships – with education, social services, labor and the private sector to improve eye health for all.
Let us work together, on World Sight Day and every day, towards a world where everyone can fulfil their potential and live their lives on an equal basis with others.
***