Vision 2020: The Right to Sight is the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness (The blindness which can be either treated or prevented). It is a joint programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
Vision 2020 was launched on date 18 February 1999 by the WHO together with more than 20 INGO (International non-governmental organizations) involved in the field of eye care and prevention and management of blindness that comprises the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). VISION 2020: The Right to Sight is a partnership that provides guidance, technical and resource support to countries that have formally adopted its agenda.
Aim
The elimination of avoidable blindness (by the year 2020).
Mission
The mission of the VISION 2020: The right to sight, Global Initiative is to eliminate the main causes of all preventable and treatable blindness as a public health issue by the year 2020.
Objectives
There are 3 major objectives:
- Raise the profile, among the key audiences, of the causes of avoidable blindness and the solutions that will help to eliminate the problem.
- Identify and secure the necessary resources around the world in order to provide an increased level of prevention and treatment programmes.
- Facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of the three core Vision 2020 strategies by National Programmes.
Components of Vision 2020
1. Human resource development – People.
2. Infrastructure development – Financial resources.
3. Disease control – effective interventions, delivered efficiently and equitably
Vision 2020: Target Disease Areas
- Cataract
- Refractive error
- Trachoma
- Childhood blindness
- Low vision
- Onchocerciasis/river blindness
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Gender and blindness
- Vitamin A deficiency
Vision 2020 Structure:
