World Sight Day Activities Report

October 11

2012World Sight Day 2012 saw numerous organizations putting together events of great verve and colour to draw attention to avoidable blindness and rehabilitation. The report includes close to a 100 events from every region with some images to accompany the stories.

Africa

Kenya

This year WSD 2012 theme for Kenya is "Awareness creation on prevention of Avoidable Blindness for Vision 2030 through VISION 2020". Different stakeholders in eye care work came together to celebrate and mark World Sight Day 2012 for an event organised by CBM supporting eye care work in Kenya. A joint banner message on display at Kenyatta International Conference center by Eye care partners in Kenya to mark the World Sight Day 2012.

Nigerian organisation E-Enable offered free eye tests to people with a disability in Calabar, Cross River State. They also donated free spectacles to the public and took part in a live television talk show to raise awareness of WSD. E-Enable also donated welfare materials to the students of St Joseph's School for the Blind in Obudu, Cross River State, in collaboration with BENITA Eye Clinic.

As in previous years, members of the Nigerian Optometric Association were out in force in the country to celebrate World Sight Day. Optometrists in private practice in Benin City, EDO State, came together on WSD to provide free eye tests and spectacles to children with refractive errors between the ages of five and 10. On the same day, eye care professionals in Abuja handed out 1000 pairs of spectacles at vision screenings and took part in a walk for sight alongside the Lions Club.

Anderson Chimeziri, member of the NOA in Benue State, also conducted vision screenings, and secured $3000 in funding to operate a vision centre for WSD. This is vital work in an area with a large farming population as exposure to intense sunlight for long periods is a predisposing factor to conditions such as cataract and pterygium.

Education on eye health also played a key role in WSD celebrations in the country. The Nigerian Optometric Student Association focussed on raising awareness of avoidable blindness through media work and by speaking to people in markets and rural areas.

The FCT Chapter also focussed on raising awareness of WSD and avoidable blindness with web, radio and TV adverts, and posters and newsletters. Free vision screening took place in 22 clinics in region.

South Africa

In celebration of World Sight Day this year, the Brien Holden Vision Institute embarked on a national road trip across South Africa, visiting some of their major eye care programs, screening school children in need, informing communities on eye health and launching a new eye care program called Giving Sight

in Soweto.

Run concurrently with the World Sight Day celebrations, the Drive for Sight event aims to inform local communities across South Africa about the Institute’s aim to eliminate avoidable blindness and vision impairment through increasing access to eye care, and how they can be part of the program by seeking affordable eye care for their families and friends.

The Institute visited its major eye health projects across South Africa (Durban, Umtata, De Aar and Soweto), screening and educating school-children and communities about the importance of eye health. Together with the Department of Health from each region, over 1000 community members and school-children were screened, and provided with spectacles, reading glasses and referral letters.

BotswanaCelebrations took place in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to mark World Sight Day around the theme, ‘promote eye health; add quality to life!’.

A partnership between the Botswana Optometrists Association, Botswana Eye Care Providers Society (BECPS), the Standard Chartered Bank and the Lions Club gave 900 people from the Tsabong outreaches access to free vision screenings and spectacles.

Eastern Mediterranean

Iran

A lecture meeting was organised at the Labbafinejad center, Tehran, for ophthalmologists and ophthalmology residents and on the aims and action plan of VISION 2020: the Right to Sight initiative, to mark WSD. Scientific papers on the epidemiology of childhood blindness, prevention and control of amblyopia and retinopathy of prematurity, as two main causes of childhood blindness, were also presented. Finally the representative of Iran Welfare Organization gave a report of their annual national screening program for refractive errors and amblyopia in 3 to 6 years old children and the participants discussed this programme.

3000 educational pamphlets and 2000 posters on prevention of childhood blindness were distributed, targeting health care staff and patients visiting primary health care centers, medical universities and ophthalmic offices. A free vision screening program was provided for children in 7 public centers in Tehran from 6 to 16 October 2012.

Iraq

The Blindness Control Programme of Iraq marked WSD12 with the slogan “reduce avoidable blindness”. Numerous events and activities were conducted, including distribution of posters and lectures at schools, health centres and hospitals. The programme also involved the Iraqi press in the event.

Pakistan

In Karachi, LRBT conducted a screening camp at a local football club, with children in the area treated free of cost. The screening was conducted in collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank, the bank’s employees were trained by LRBT on the basic screening procedures.

WSD12 marked a special occasion for the Allied Hospital Faisalabad (AHF). Identified and selected in consultation with National Coordinator, Prevention & Control of Blindness Program, Pakistan to be developed for Pediatric & VR ophthalmology subspecialty services in 2009, with support from Fred

Hollows Foundation, AHF inaugurated its new facilities on October 13. Speaking on the occasion Prof Sultan, Head Department of Ophthalmology thanked the Fred Hollows Foundation for making their dream true by establishing subspecialty services in the hospital. He also expressed his gratitude to the chief guest, country manager FHF for their invaluable support.

A Public Awareness Raising Seminar was held at Khyber Eye Foundation, Peshawar, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan on October 17th 2012 by the Fred Hollows Foundation Australia in collaboration with Khyber Eye Foundation to mark the occasion of World Sight Day 2012.

This year CHEF- International, celebrated WSD12 with key focus on creation of public awareness regarding preventable causes of blindness. All the activities were organized involving eye care teams with the active community participation. The teams placed at Ten Community Vision Centers (CVCs) of CHEF-International in different parts of the country organized multiple activities like public awareness

walk, seminars and screening of school children for refractive errors or low vision. The team of CVC Peshawar (KPK) organised a fund raising exhibition in which handicraft made by the female employees at CHEF International, students of the school for the blind, Peshawar and the Livelihood project (CHEF) collectively celebrated the World Sight Day 2012.

Saudi ArabiaThe Saudi National Prevention of Blindness Committee (NPBC) chaired by Prince Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdulaziz, in collaborations with many institutions, hospitals and eye medical centers in the Kingdom, has concluded the celebration of the World Sight Day 2012 (WSD2012) held on Thursday 11th of October 2012 in three regions of Saudi Arabia. The activities conducted included : 1. Awareness lectures about eye diseases and “Vision 2020: The right to sight”2. Free eye examination3. Exhibitions showcasing the different eye diseases.4. Distribution of awareness brochures and booklets. 5. Radio and television interviews with senior ophthalmologists on eye diseases and concept of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight.

Europe

Light for the World organised an innovative campaign to spread awareness on avoidable blindness this WSD12. Famous landmarks and statues all over the world went ‘blind’, in LFTW’s campaign on World Sight Day. Brussels' famous landmark, the Manneken Pis and Vienna's Johann Strauss monument are only two of many famous statues that were blindfolded to raise awareness for the situations of blind and disabled people in developing countries.

Armenia

WSD 2012 celebration started on October 11, with eye screenings and a flashmob in the village of Hatsik, Armavir region. Flyers with WSD messages and eye care information were distributed to the schoolchildren and the residents of the village. The dance performed by young dancers from the Art & Sports Center of Arabkir, symbolized an eye and engaged everyone to dance (follow at http://youtu.be/eSR0792YO9U).

WSD events continued on October 13, with eye screening in the #14 special school of Yerevan for children with visual impairment. The AECP fellow Dr. Lilit Mkrtchyan, who had her fellowship in the US on low vision, conducted the screening. On the same day, the AECP team joined the charity initiative of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia in the Lukashin village (Armavir region) where U.S. Embassy volunteers, led by the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia H.E. John Heffern and his wife, helped with refurbishment works of the local public school. The AECP medical groups conducted eye screening for local residents. A harvest festival organized by local schoolchildren followed the works, when children represented various Armenian fruits, products, and national dishes to their guests. The photos may be downloaded from here https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4AuA_T1gggBa3R4SDVGZURqT1U

Two charity concerts at the Komitas Chamber Music Hall, Yerevan, on October 23 and 25, will wrap up the WSD events. The concerts will be performed by the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia (NCOA), world famous violinist Levon Chilingirian (UK)1 and principal conductor of NCOA and artistic director of Caen Symphony Orchestra (France)2. Funds raised at these events will support programs fighting childhood blindness in Armenia and the region.

Italy

On WSD12, IAPB Italy set up information points in many Italian squares “to grow together in prevention”. In twenty out of about seventy towns, free eye check-ups were carried out on special mobile ophthalmic units and in medical centres (in collaboration with the Italian Blind Union).

Essilor Italia celebrated World Sight Day in style with a presentation by Managing Director Marcus Caccini, followed by staff activities. Together with employees they were able to raise over € 6000 for Optometry Giving Sight, which will go towards providing sustainable access to eye care in the developing world. It's also the most amount of money ever raised in Europe for the Optometry Giving Sight’s World Sight Day Company Challenge!

1http://www.chil ingirianquartet.co.uk/profiles.htm 2www.vahan-mardirossian.com/ , http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Mardirossian-Vahan.htm

“We were delighted to have raised so much” Explained Marcus Caccini, Managing Director Essilor “The work of Optometry Giving Sight is very important to all of the team at Essilor and in line with our motto ‘to see the world better’ and we feel very proud that our efforts will go towards transforming many lives.”

To help raise funds, employees of Essilor had the opportunity to donate the amount of their vacation days in favor of the important work of Optometry Giving Sight.

Portugal

The Association of Portuguese Optometrists (APLO) and Special Olympics Portugal teamed up for WSD to raise funds to help improve the sight of people with an intellectual disability. Special Olympics is a global organisation that serves more than 4 million athletes with intellectual disabilities each year. Optometrists from APLO, Portugal’s largest optometric membership organisation, marked WSD by raising funds to protect and improve the eyesight of these athletes.

Turkey

Lions Clubs International marked the 15th annual Lions World Sight Day in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 10-11, 2012. Lions Clubs International President Wayne A. Madden and other Lions leaders took part in the events. The focus of this year’s Lions World Sight Day was on diabetic retinopathy and its relationship to blindness. Lions in Turkey held public eye screenings, focusing on diabetic eye disease detection, at the Bayrampasa Eye Care Hospital and in Idealtepe Eye Care Center. If diabetic retinopathy or other eye diseases are discovered, follow-up care will be provided.

As part of Lions World Sight Day, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has awarded Lions in Turkey a SightFirst grant to support the purchase of diabetic retinopathy treatment equipment. SightFirst is Lions' most ambitious and successful initiative funded through LCIF. It has made quality eye care accessible to those who most need it since it was founded in 1990. Additionally, a press conference on diabetic eye disease saw participation from Turkish eye specialists, representatives of the Turkish Diabetes Association, Lions leadership and representatives from the World Health Organization.

“Lions and Lions Clubs International Foundation are committed to preventing blindness, and Lions World Sight Day exemplifies this commitment,” said Lions President Madden

United Kingdom

CBM marked WSD12 by highlighting the 25th anniversary of the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP).

As part of this celebration, CBM President Professor Allen Foster took part in a panel discussion on 'Disease Elimination in the 21st Century' at the Royal Geographical Society in London. Mike Davies (CBM UK) also attended this event, where former President of Ghana Mr John Kufour delivered a keynote speech.

RNIB promoted its Save our Sight campaign on WSD12. Noting that the number of people in the UK with sight loss is predicted to double to nearly four million by 2050, yet over 50 per cent of sight loss can be avoided, the SOS campaign aims to address this issue. RNIB Chief Executive, Lesley-Anne Alexander

CBE said: "On World Sight Day, we are encouraging people to get their eyes tested. This is an important health check, because even if your vision seems OK, an eye test can detect problems you don't know you have - and save your sight."

In Maidstone, Kent, the British Wireless for the Blind Fund ran a Twitter campaign on World Sight Day to raise awareness about preventable blindness. Apart from tweeting regularly throughout the day, about facts and figures around blindness and the importance of regular eye tests and eye health, the Fund also circulated a similar-themed press release to local press.

South East Asia

Bangladesh

Mymensingh BNSB Eye Hospital marked WSD12 by organising a colourful rally ”Drishti Padajatra” at Mymensingh, Nakla, Sherpur and Netrokona districts on October 11, 2012. The rallies passed through the main city of Mymensingh, Nakla and Netrokona. School children, representative from civil society, different govt. official and representatives from different NGOs were present in the said rallies. Mymensingh BNSB Eye Hospital has brought out promotional materials in connection to WSD 12.

India

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – India observed the World Sight Day with events spread over two days: October 10 & 11, 2012. The events were observed with our member organisations from the State of Gujarat in western India. The theme for this year was Glaucoma.

On October 10: a technical session titled ‘Glaucoma: an emerging eye care challenge in India’ was held at our member organisation: Sankara Eye Hospital, Anand, Gujarat. At the technical session, the various aspects of glaucoma were discussed with a special emphasis on Gujarat, the venue of the session. On October 11, our member organisation, Care Group organised a series of events at Vadodara, Gujarat starting with a walk in the morning hours. There was participation from school children, ophthalmologists from the city. Senior government officials from the ministry of health, government of India flagged off the walk and walked along with the school children for a km. Colouful balloons were released to mark the occasion. An exhibition of painting by school children from the city school was displayed at the venue. The topic was on how they perceive blindness or the world of a blind person. These paintings will form VISION 2020 – India’s calendar for 2013.

In New Delhi. Beyond Sight Foundation organised ‘Blind With Camera’ workshops with Infinite Ability, UCMS (for visually impaired students from Delhi University) on 5-6 October and with Saksham Trust NOIDA (for visually impaired children’s from Saksham Daksh school) on 7th October 2012 to mark WSD12.

‘Blind With Camera’ and Alliance Francaise de Delhi also partnered in ‘Wide Eye Open’ exhibition from 5-18 October, 2012. It is a collection of photographs taken by the visually impaired who were trained in photography since 2006 under the Blind With Camera project of Beyond Sight Foundation.

The exhibition included touch & feel pictures, Braille and large print foot notes and audio descriptions to provide "inclusion" of both visually impaired and sighted individuals.

In Hyderabad, the Bausch & Lomb School of Optometry (BLSO) commemorated World Sight Day 2012 by conducting a vision screening program for schoolchildren at Nalanda Grammar High School, Bonguluru village in Ranga Reddy district, on 11th October 2012. The BLSO faculty and 3rd and 2nd year students participated in the screening programme. A total of 417 schoolchildren were screened.

This year National Ophthalmic Associate Association, Primary health Centre, Karungalaukudi and Kottampatti SSA jointly organized an Eye Care Awareness Signature Campaign at Kottampatti Bus stand, Madurai district. An eye camp was also organised on the 16th.

Malaysia

The Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital celebrated the World Sight Day with several activities. Four eye screening activities namely in Gua Musang, Kelantan, East Coast of Malaysia, Tesco Rawang, Selangor, TTDI Ambank, Kuala Lumpur and also at the Sungai Buloh Prisons, Malaysia’s largest prison. In total 500 people benefitted from the eye screenings. On 13th October, 16 poor and needy senior citizens underwent cataract surgery at the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital. The costs of the operations were co-sponsored by Lions Club of Petaling Jaya. Also in conjunction with World Sight Day, the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital, launch its new Logo on 13th October 2012.

Western Pacific

Australia

Optometry Giving Sight’s World Sight Day Company challenge, the industry’s annual October campaign to raise funds for people throughout the world who are blind or vision impaired due to uncorrected refractive error, saw many companies come out in support.

Marchon Eyewear will be encouraging their staff to “be inspired” by participating in sponsored sporting events such as running, biking and swimming and encouraging friends, family and colleagues to sponsor them. CooperVision is inviting their staff to “brace themselves” by purchasing a special wristband and participating in staff activities at all their global sites on October 11th. The company will match all donations from their staff. Transitions Optical is encouraging all members of the profession along with consumers to upload a winning photo of an everyday moment as part of their ‘Sight of the Day’ photo contest. Not only are there prizes to be won, but ‘Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund’ will donate 0.25 for every photo. Optos has also announced that it will once again donate $1 for every Optomap that is taken on World Sight Day, which this year is October 11th.

Hong Kong

ORBIS Hong Kong encouraged students in Hong Kong schools to donate HK $20 for special ORBIS pins Participating schools received an ORBIS acknowledgement certificate or a special "Thank You" certificate if they have supported World Sight Day for at least three consecutive years. The names of all participating schools will appear in an acknowledgement advertisement in Hong Kong Economic Times.

In Santiago City, Province of Isabela, Philippines, WSD12 was celebrated by the local government with the Pasig Lions Club by conducting 100 eye surgeries in two days at the city ambulatory clinic. Around 400 patients were screened and 300 pairs of spectacles were dispensed for presbyopic patients. Lions-Tanggal Katarata Program provided technical assistance and logistics while the city government provided needed medication and support for the medical team. Patients were pre-screened by community health workers trained in primary eye care in 2011. The city government adopted the Prevention of Blindness Program of the Department of Health and integrated eye care in the health

programs of the city. The event was covered by ABS CBN Regional News for Cagayan Valley, while Santiago City news team will include the event in its official website.

In Santo Rosario, Province of Pampanga Philippines, the Pasig Host Lions Club conducted:

150 people were screened for cataract Screened 120 school children under the Sight for Kids Program of Lions. Dispensed 200 reading glasses

In Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines, the mayor and the Olongapo Peninsula Lions in partnership with Pasig Host Lions Tanggal Katarata Program celebrated WSD12 by way of conducting a one day cataract surgical programme on October 7 as part of the local action health program of the city. 54 eye surgeries were performed on indigent patients certified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The activity is an annual local government initiated event with Lions, to celebrate World Sight Day. The activity was covered by local news media and posted online by Olongapo City government. In Bait, Mansalay Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, celebrations of WSD12 and the Indiginous Peoples Day of the "Mangyans" in the Philippines on October 13, local government leaders and the parish priest of the Municipality of Mansalay, in partnership with Pasig Host Lions led by Lion President Tom Meneses and Thomas Widemuth of Coco Beach Island Resort served the eye care needs of the indigenous tribes of the province of Oriental Mindoro called Mangyans. Seventy four (74) eye surgeries were done for the municipalities of Mansalay and Bongabong. One hundred pairs of reading glasses were also dispensed. First post operation check up of patients was done on October 13 and 14 for surgeries performed in October 12 and 13 respectively. More than 150 persons were screened in the mountainous municipality of Mansalay and upland areas of Bongabong.

North America

United States of America

On October 11, thirteen domestic and international organizations from the vision community joined

Left to right: Speakers Gyan “John” Prakash, Ph.D., M.B.A. (National Eye Institute, NEI) and John Crews, D.P.A. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC) with Mark Ackermann (Lighthouse International), who serves as Chairman of Vision 2020/USA and welcomed attendees

VISION 2020/USA in hosting a Congressional Briefing entitled From Vision Research to Vision Loss Prevention. Collaboration was the theme of the event, as representatives of two “sister” agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) spoke about their collaborations on state, national, and international bases—Gyan “John” Prakash, Ph.D., M.B.A., who serves as the Associate Director of International Programs at the National Eye Institute (NEI) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and John Crews, D.P.A., a Health Scientist with the Vision Health Initiative in the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The World Sight Day Congressional Briefing was the third in a series of briefings held by the vision community in the September-October 2012 timeframe, including a September 13 Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation briefing and an October 20 AMD Awareness week briefing.

To mark WSD12, Seva has pledged to enable an additional 5,000 people to have their eyesight restored. Focusing Philanthropy, a Seva donor, gave a challenge grant of $80,000 and that donation was matched by Seva donors and supporters.

Optometry Giving Sight reports that thousands of optometrists, staff, patients and industry colleagues across the globe are taking the World Sight Day Challenge throughout October to raise desperately needed funds for people with refractive error blindness and impaired vision.

“It’s not too late for anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired to take the Challenge,” said Dr. Mary Anne Murphy, chairperson of Optometry Giving Sight USA. “This is our chance as a profession and community to ensure that all people have access to quality vision care provided by a qualified eye care professional, no matter where they live in the world.”

“I decided to donate $20 for every eye exam we performed in the month of October, said Dr. Todd Brantley from Lone Star Vision in Plano, Texas who was last year’s World Sight Day Challenge top donor. “We ended up doing 295 comprehensive eye exams and donated $5,900 as a result! I'm grateful to help make an impact in the lives of those unable to properly utilize their vision simply because they don't have the means to get a pair of glasses. I'm happy to support such a wonderful organization that has a passion for those less fortunate!”

The office of the student disability services at the university of Central Florida marked WSD12 by conducting a session for sighted people on blindness and WSD12. Later, the documentary “Going Blind” was viewed by attendees. Participants in the activities planned around WSD12 were eligible for diversity credit.

This WSD12, TOMS, the “One for One” company, focused on raising awareness about avoidable blindness. TOMS fostered discussions on their social media pages, with hashtag “#GIVEsight” and also set up special visual distortion frames on the sidewalks of several big cities (London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and Manila).

On World Sight Day, TOMS partnered with Seva Foundation and Helen Keller International’s programme in the USA, ChildSight®. A middle school in downtown Manhattan with more than 200 students were given vision tests – providing more than 50 kids with new prescription glasses. A special event in Austin’s Symphony Square featuring artwork inspired by World Sight Day was also held.

Latin America

Argentina

On the occasion of World Sight Day held last October 11th Ophthalmological Foundation Hugo D Nano undertook four awareness and dissemination actions, these were:

David Peralta and Diego Rodríguez (players of football team Estudiantes de la Plata/Nano Foundation) together with their coach German Márquez and the director of the María Bayá Casal Center assisted to Buenos Aires Standard Charted Bank with the objective of offering a motivational talk on how to overcome the difficulties imposed by blindness and the search for meaning in life standing as a permanent motivating factor.

That day the students and the teachers from Centro de Día together with the O and M and AVD professors handed out leaflets on how to help a blind person both in the street and in transportation means.

Ophthalmologic screening was held at school Number 2 in Olivos as part of the “See to Learn” program that was organized by the Rotary Club of that town. The program included 400 students from public schools.

That day the doctors cared for 60 children and prescribed 12 pairs of glasses.

Ophthalmologists in charge of the screening program and treatment of ROP attended the General Rodriguez Municipal Hospital "premature Festival" that takes place there every year to raise awareness about the importance of the immediate ophthalmologic controls for children who may suffer ROP.

In Cordoba, the Day of Optics and Contact was held at the National University of Villa María. The program aimed at contact lens

specialists, ophthalmologists and students in order to create a space for updates on specific topics in the field of optical and eye care.

This session was led by the Ministry of Research and Extension Institute of Basic and Applied Sciences.

Bolivia

The central theme of this year was the ocular health and the equalitarian access to ocular attention.

In La Paz department, the activities that took place in the framework of celebration of this day were the ones that follow:

First Ocular Health Fair in El Alto: On October 8th, the first ocular health fair took place with the aim of raising awareness and to publicize the work of eye disease prevention that is being made by this department. The event was organized by the Fundación de Ojos del Mundo together with the municipal government of El Alto, the government of La Paz, and the National Ophthalmologic Institute, the Bolivian Institute of Blindness and the regional health services and the British International Service.

During the fair more than 2200 drawings to commemorate the date made by schoolchildren from El Alto could be appreciated. They worked directly with more than 40 educational institutions and indirectly through GAMEA.

The awarding of the drawings selected by the jury also took place during the event. The categories that were evaluated and awarded were drawing, poetry and music. In addition it also featured the animation of the Luis Espinal War College Music Band and the presence of trained police dogs. Zebras of GAMEA, oriented the children on eye care, together with the exhibition of the drawings that have been submitted for the contest this year.

Press Conference at the National Eye Institute (INO): On Tuesday, October 9 th a meeting with members of the Paceña press was held in order to make known the work of prevention of blindness being done in this department and to show the importance of the role of mass media in preventing eye related diseases.

During the mentioned event INO doctors made presentations which showed what are the diseases that can affect vision and the keys to detect them on time. Moreover, the work of prevention of blindness being conducted in the Department of La Paz was also presented, through the words of Patricia Tárraga, Representative and Coordinator of the Eyes of the World, Cristina Sanchez, representative of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness and Dr. Joel Moya, Director of INO.

To conclude the event, the SEDES La Paz, explained SAFCI model, which is the newest approach to health that is being implemented with the goal of eliminating social exclusion in health, through the implementation of the Single Intercultural Community Health System that assumes the principle of social participation in decision making at all levels of management and health care of Bolivians as a fundamental right that the state guarantees.

The central celebration of World Sight Day was held in the Auditorium of the INO, ceremony that included the prominent presence of Vice Minister of Health Promotion, Dr. Martin Maturano Trigo.

Following the ceremony, the INO awarded the individuals who outstanded in promoting prevention of blindness in the multinational State of Bolivia.

Finally, as closure of the event, the Vice Minister of Health and Promotion, Dr. Martin Maturano Trigo, talked about the importance of prevention of blindness and the commitment of the Government of Bolivia to elaborate National Eye Health Plans so as to ensure that everyone has access to eye care.

He concluded by inviting the Bolivian Society of Ophthalmology to approach the Ministry of Health and work together towards ocular health and prevention of blindness.

Aguirre Perez Foundation:

To celebrate World Sight Day 2012, during the month of October the Ophthalmological Foundation "Aguirre Perez” offered ten free cataract surgeries to people meeting the requirements of not having enough resources. Patient selection was held in the office of the foundation with Lab SAVAL cooperation in the dissemination and promotion of the program.

Brazil

A team of 4 professionals and 18 Volunteers representing Regina Cunha Foundation visited 2 public schools (1 in Salvador and 1 in Itabuna) and conducted educational activities for the school children. As part of the activities, children were screened and referred to an Ophthalmologist, based on need. A partner optical shop donated necessary spectacles, with the foundation monitoring the complete process. Of the 223 children screened, 23 were referred to an ophthalmologist and 5 of them were given spectacles. TV, Radio and the internet was used to popularise messages around eye care.

Activities held in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil:

The Ophthalmology Service of The Clinics Hospital from The Federal University of Pernambuco sponsored an attention campaign in honor of World Sight Day. A total of 268 persons 50 years old or more were examined. From this cohort, 58 persons had cataracts, 46 glaucoma and 110 needed eyeglasses. Other diseases like diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration were less

frequent. All patients were referred to the specific subspecialty departments of the Ophthalmology Service for further investigation and treatment.

The campaign was held with the help of the staff and the residents of the ophthalmology service. It counted with the valuable help of the Lions Club of Pernambuco. Medical students performed educational activities with all the participants.

ColombiaOn October 11th the following activities took place in the Medical Department of the National University

of San Agustín of Arequipa:

Television and radio broadcasting about World Sight Day with special emphasis on preventing blindness.

Ophtalmologic attention to children from the University Kindergarten and for adults at the parade with the children of Cuna Kindergarten carrying banners allusive to the World Sight Day and raising awareness for eye care, during the

parade allusive leaflets were also handed out.

The Colombian Federation of Optometrists developed diverse campaigns to strengthen visual health. In Pereira, Fedopto together with the Área Andina University foundation cared for patients with special needs.

Meanwhile, in Medellin, Fedopto conducted information programs regarding the importance of a good optical prescription, among others. “It is not enough with the prescription drown up by the professional by itself, it requires a proper technical release “explained Leonardo Orjuela, OD, in one of the information programs. Nationwide images,

posters and interactive pieces were distributed in order to inform the population within the framework of World Sight Day.

On one hand, the National Institute for the Blind made the official presentation of the XXIX Bogota Film Festival poster embossed for the blind, as an act of inclusion for people with visual impairment. Through the sense of

touch, visually impaired people may get to know the work of artist Nadin Ospina adapted in high relief. Also, there was a talk about how to go to the movies with a blind person.

On the other hand, Bayer HealthCare Pharm held a press conference on October 4 th, with the aim of calling for doctors and patients to prevent age related macular degeneration (AMD)

The ophthalmologist Daniel Janer, MD, said: "We want to land the proposals on treatment options for a disease like AMD because it affects almost everyone over the age of 50 years."

El Salvador

As part of the celebration of the World Sight Day in FUDEM a cataract surgery campaign that lasted a week was inaugurated. It was intended to operate 200 people for free.

It also stands out the specialization course on Low Vision Rehabilitation held as part of the project “Educating in Low Vision” of ICEVI, with the participation of the Lions Club from el Salvador and CBM.

Guatemala

In the framework of World Sight Day and the International White Cane Day, an ophthalmological

campaign was held, including free medical care and 100 cataract surgeries. A cultural program featuring blind singers and artists was also carried out.

Honduras

Like every year, the Christian Center of Humanitarian Services Honduras (CCSHH) hosted the World Sight Day celebration through the realization of different activities in 5 rural schools from the city of El Progreso.

In those schools 1200 kids received vision screenings. Free attention in the CCSHH was also given to those who presented advanced cases of pathologies.

Talks were given on how to take care of our eyes, through plays performed by students of the Institute Perla of the Ulua.

The activities concluded on October 11th with the visual health fair at the park Ramón Rosa, were 3 schools exhibit on eye care and eye disease. Prizes were awarded to the best exhibitors, exhibits and originality.

There was also a visual campaign where 230 eye screenings took place and the same amount of eye glasses were given out to people who attended the visual health fair.

México

Devlyn Foundation held a press conference where they unveiled the progress that has been achieved through various altruistic programs.

• "Give a Good Vision", which rehabilitates donated eyeglasses by clients, companies and suppliers for those low-income families, eyeglasses were given out in visual clinics.

• "Rounding", Devlyn Group offers Devlyn Foundation with more than 800 branches as a platform for raising money in alliance with various social organizations.

• "Vision 2020" a program launched in October 2010, as part of World Visual Health Day whose aims are to promote the importance of eye exams for early problem detection.

It should be noted that from January to October of this year, Devlyn Foundation conducted 40 Visual clinics in various States of the Mexican Republic benefiting around 13,000 people. One Sight Foundation

joined this noble cause and supported this project with optical exams and the donation of eyeglasses.

Nicaragua

The activity began at 7:00 am with the participation of the Pan American Health Organization, Children and Teachers of Melania Morales School, the Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security, The Pedagogical Medical Institute Pipitos, SILAIS Managua, Nicaragua Blind Association Marisela Toledo, University of Managua, Managua UNAN Bachelor of Optometry, University Martin Lutero, Private Opticians (San Carlos Optics, Munkel Optics, Global Optics, Gracias a Dios Optics).

Laboratories: OFTISOL, UNIPHAR, Droguería Nuñez, KLONAL, ALCON.

Sponsors: OPS, INSS, B 2 Gold, ICE Holito, Delmor Industries, Logistic International, INTUR CSE.

The Governor of the Lions of Nicaragua Mayra de Viuda de Ruiz, focused her message in the principal causes of blindness and urged to continue to work as a nation to meet the proposed goals for 2020 in regards to reducing the prevalence rates of blindness and visual impairment.

The celebration continued with medical care, refraction exams and ophthalmic surgeries. Dances, chants and music were also performed.

A total of 921 people were seen by doctors, of which the following results were obtained:

286 ophthalmological consultations.

635 refraction exams delivering 635 eyeglasses with their cases.

A total of 3 cataract surgeries and 15 Pterigion.

Perú

In the frame of the World Sight Day celebration, on October 11th and 12th an eye disease squad with the aim of preventing ocular pathologies in the community took place. The day was led by the Regional Government of San Martin, Peru, and the ophthalmologist Julio César Cesías López, MD.

In turn, the Health Directorate of Piura, celebrated the Eye Week held under the motto "You look good" with the goal of providing care to children under 11 and adults over 50 years.

The Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (IRO), establishment for the Health Management La Libertad, held a campaign of free eye care in the city of Huamachuco, located 8 hours from the city of Trujillo at a height greater than 3000 meters above sea level, serving 631 adults over age 65 living in poverty and extreme poverty, of which 92 patients with decreased visual acuity were evaluated by ophthalmologists determining 40 patients needing cataract surgery, which took place the first week of November.

In Huamachuco radio and television broadcast activities about the importance of detecting and operating patients with cataracts, the leading cause of reversible blindness in the region, were conducted by journalists from Channel 9 local edition ATV and Radio Antenna 9 HCO.

Educational talks on issues related to retinopathy of prematurity, refractive errors, glaucoma and cataract were given in the facilities of IRO to patients attending the ambulatory consultation in the waiting rooms of pediatric ophthalmology, adult general ophthalmology and glaucoma

service. 115 assistants participated. Leaflets related to the covered topics were handed out.

Ophtalmologists and Neonatologists at the

Retinopathy of Prematurity Conference.Hospital “Jesús María

Casal Ramos.” Acarigua

Banners were placed in crowded areas of the city on World Sight Day and were placed in five districts of the province of Trujillo: Trujillo (IRO headquarters), Moche, El Milagro, El Porvenir and Florencia de Mora.

Ophthalmologists, residents, nurses and administrative staff of IRO participated in all the activities.

Venezuela

In 2012 the National Day of Free Cataract Surgery for patients with limited resources took place in Venezuela, just as in 2011 when 500 patients were operated nationwide.

This year between the months of October and November a significant amount of surgeries are expected with the contribution of the Venezuelan

Musicians of the Rhythmic Band of the National Orchestra. World Sight Day Concert.

Society of Ophthalmology, represented by Dr. Morayma Acevedo, and the ophthalmic industry for surgical supplies.

Another large group of ophthalmologists committed to provide free eye consultations for low-income patients in their offices or private centers in the major cities of the country. The link between the SVO and laboratories allowed the publication in national newspapers of a notice with the board of experts who would participate in these free consultations. In public hospitals in the health network similar conferences were planned.

The Ministry of Popular Power for Health (MPPS), held the V Meeting of coordinators of Eye Health State Authority throughout the country, organized by Dr. Israel Bermudez, in order to define strategies to motivate human resource training in different specialties, raising awareness and

educating the people about taking care and maintaining healthy vision.

Lectures with specialists in the hospital "Jesús María Casal Ramos" in Acarigua in the State Portuguesa were given to create a screening of Retinopathy of Prematurity in that state, which until then did not have a prevention program.

There were display boards, talks about lifestyles that promote eye health, and dramatization of the program "Visual Health Goes to School." The V meeting of coordinators of Visual Health State Authority took place, they reviewed the achievements of the program and

discussed the strategic plan for the prevention of blindness that was developed last July, with support from PAHO consultant Dr. Juan Carlos Silva.

Finally, a concert of children with visual impairments, who make up the National System Rhythm Band Orchestra, was featured in the city of Barquisimeto to commemorate the World Sight Day, organized by a group of postgraduate ophthalmology residents (Dr. Milena Gonzalez).