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Eye health action plan provides roadmap for improvement strategies, progress monitoring, effective cooperation
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TOKYO — Successful implementation of an action plan on eye health by the World Health Organization relies on awareness, coordination of efforts and synergistic work of the ophthalmologic community at large, ophthalmological societies and governments, Ivo Kocur, MD, said at the World Ophthalmology Congress.
Kocur defined the strategy, the WHO Universal Eye Health: A Global Action Plan 2014-2019, as “a very unique, comprehensive effort and a major accomplishment.” For the first time, all 194 member states set a common global target: 25% reduction in the prevalence of avoidable visual impairment by 2019 from baseline data of 2010. Also, a consensus was found on a list of key eye health indicators to assess the current situation of eye health and measure progress.
Ivo Kocur
“We rely on ophthalmological societies to help: raising awareness at a national level, interacting with governments to develop national eye health plans and policies, identifying resources, organizing task groups around core objectives and monitoring progress,” Kocur said.
Measurable deliverables and assessment tools have been developed by the WHO to gauge the progress of the plan in individual countries in relation to disease control, visual rehabilitation and eye care services capacity.
Information and specific accomplishments will be made available through the WHO Global Health Observatory platform (www.who.int/gho/en/), on the WHO website (www.who.int/blindness/en) and in individual periodic reports.
Disclosure: Kocur has no relevant financial disclosures.