Optometrists as Visionaries
National Optometric Conference, 6th October 2004, London
A FEW NUMBERS
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An estimated 45 million people worldwide are clinically blind and 135 million are visually impaired, with 90% living in developing countries Without further intervention, by 2020 these numbers will have increased to 75 million clinically blind and 250 million visually impaired
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A FEW FACTS
FACT: 80% of the blindness in the world is avoidable……and could be prevented or cured through cost effective means FACT: The treatments available for the prevention and cure of blindness are among the most successful of all health interventions* FACT: Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) is the opportunity for optometrists and dispensing opticians to make a difference
*Source: World Bank
A FEW MORE FACTS
75% of avoidable blindness is due to: • Uncorrected refractive error • Cataract • Trachoma • Onchocerciasis (river blindness) • Childhood blindness
Working together, we can enable all people in the world to exercise their right to sight
UNCORRECTED REFRACTIVE ERROR AND LOW VISION
• • Blindness due to refractive error is a substantial public health problem in many parts of the world. Its presence implies inadequate eyecare services in the population concerned, since treatment of refractive error is probably the simplest and most effective of eye care interventions. Intervention at this level can help not only the individual but indeed in the whole family. (1)
(1) Refractive error blindness, Rakhi Dandona & Lalit Dandona, Bulletin of the World Health Organizations, 2001, 79 (3)
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KCCO, TANZANIA, 2004
Photo courtesy of Tim Rooke, Rex Features
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY 2003
• The actions by the Health Assembly included urging member states to ‘commit themselves to supporting the Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness by setting up, no later than 2005, a national VISION 2020 plan, in collaboration with WHO, NGOs and the private sector’….. ’to establish a national coordinating committee for VISION 2020, or a national blindness prevention committee to help develop and implement the plan’… and to ‘commence implementation of such plans by 2007 at the latest’
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FOUNDING ORGANISATIONS OF OPTOMETRY GIVING SIGHT
• IAPB - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness was established in 1975 as a coordinating, umbrella organisation to lead an international effort in mobilising resources for blindness prevention activities WOF - World Optometry Foundation The WOF is the fund-raising arm of the World Council of Optometry, an international organisation of more than 50 countries dedicated to the enhancement and development of eye and vision care worldwide. WOF was created in 2000 to work with individuals, academic institutions, professional associations and health ministries to facilitate the enhancement and development of eye and vision care around the world ICEE - International Centre for Eyecare Education Founded in 1998, International Centre for Eyecare Education is a not-for-profit, nongovernment organisation. ICEE's mission is to eliminate avoidable blindness due to uncorrected refractive error by developing sustainable solutions for disadvantaged communities in serious need of eyecare
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OPTOMETRY GIVING SIGHT: AIMS
To raise funds from optometrists and dispensing opticians throughout the world for the purpose of eliminating avoidable blindness, including the elimination of impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error
Now, Optometry as a profession has an opportunity to make a difference
OPTOMETRY GIVING SIGHT
• Is an international campaign and key to achieving the goals of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight Initiative VISION 2020 : The Right to Sight is a global initiative of the World Health Organisation and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, with a coalition of international NonGovernmental Organisations and is a worldwide concerted effort designed to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020* • OGS will enable all parties and organisations involved in combating blindness to work in a focused and coordinated way to achieve this common goal
*See appendix 1 for list of organisations involved
WHERE HAS OGS BEEN IMPLEMENTED?
• United Kingdom - launched in February 2004, the UK approach has been to sign up large and medium sized chains and independents. Australia - launched in May 2004, the Australian approach has been to ask optometrists to ‘tick yes to OGS’ when renewing their membership to the ‘Optometrists Association Australia’
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Holland - to be launched later this year
IN THE UK - ‘DOING GOOD IS GOOD FOR
BUSINESS’
• • • • The impact and effects of corporate social responsibility are farreaching. The ethical consumer is on the rise In business terms, people buy integrity Over two thirds of consumers (68%) are still calling for more companies to be involved in cause related marketing* Now there is increased pressure from investors, consumers and employees to consider social and environmental criteria in relation to the way a company carries out its business
*Brand Benefits 2003, supported by Research International and Lightspeed
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FURTHER BUSINESS ADVANTAGES
STORE LEVEL: • OGS will supply every store with in-store branded literature including a dated certificate of membership, poster and window sticker which will identify the store as being a member of OGS STAFF LEVEL: • Staff communication and education explaining OGS and how they can make a difference via a CD Rom presentation PATIENT LEVEL: • ‘Support an optometrist/optician that supports OGS’. Patients to be encouraged to join at store level and be involved in a range of fundraising activities
HOW ARE THE FUNDS USED?
• All the money will go to projects working to meet the VISION 2020 goal
• • 40% of the funds will go to WCO, ICEE and IAPB 40% will be distributed amongst the NGOs participating in the national OGS committee 20% will be placed in the OGS Refractive Error and Low Vision Fund
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HOW CAN YOU HELP OGS?
• If you are an optometrist or dispensing optician you can sign yourself or your company up to OGS today! You can join at a membership, platinum or corporate platinum level.
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• Please help us to prevent an estimated 100 million people from becoming blind by the year 2020.
CONTACTS & USEFUL LINKS
• • • www.v2020.org www.givingsight.org Gemma Ortiz Genovese European Programme Manager, OGS London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Keppel Street London WC1E 7HT T: +44 (0)20 7958 8369 E-mail: gemma@givingsight.org