UN General Assembly adopts ‘Vision for Everyone’ resolution |20 August 2021
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted its first resolution on vision, which aims to tackle avoidable sight loss and incorporate eye health within the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Resolution A/75/L.108 – Vision for Everyone; accelerating action to achieve the sustainable development goals – was unanimously passed by the 193 countries of the United Nations.
The United Nations Friends of Vision Group, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), said the resolution sets targets for ‘vision for everyone’ by 2030, calling for countries to ensure full access to eye care services, and make eye health “integral” to their nation’s commitments to achieving the development goals.
The resolution is calling for the UN to incorporate eye care into its work, including through Unicef and UN-Women, and for new targets on eye care to be included in the UN’s SDGs at its next review.
Sharing the organisation’s ‘delight’ at the unanimous passing of the resolution, IAPB CEO, Peter Holland, highlighted: “The eye health sector has believed for a long time that quality eye care is critical to the world achieving the SDGs.”
Meanwhile, international financial institutions and donors are asked to provide targeted finances – particularly to support developing countries to tackle preventable sight loss.
The resolution notes that at least two billion people are living with vision impairment or blindness, and 1.1 billion people have vision impairment that could have been prevented, or is yet to be addressed, adding, “global eye care needs are projected to increase substantially, with half the global population expected to be living with a vision impairment by 2050”.
The UN Friends of Vision and IAPB suggested the plan could mean that, by 2030, the 1.1 billion people living with preventable sight loss around the world will have access to support and treatment.
Welcoming the news “for all those on our planet living without access to eye health,” Caroline Casey, president of the IAPB, pointed out: “This will only make a difference to some of the poorest on our planet if governments act now.”
Reflecting on the agreement of the member states of the United Nations to the global plan for change, Casey added: “Those of us working in eye health will work with every sinew in our bodies to ensure that this is delivered and to ensure that 2030 is in sight for all.”
Reactions to the resolution
A number of organisations and companies across the eye care profession have responded to the resolution, and the recognition of eye health as a key developmental issue.
Lion Dharam Vir Sharma, district officer of Vision & Sight for Kids for District 411A Region E for Seychelles & Mombasa, has welcomed this landmark development as preventable sight loss is a global challenge that needs a global solution – and that is what have been agreed.
About 90% of preventable vision loss occurs in low and middle income countries, of which 55% affects women and girls. Supporting the implementation of this resolution is a crucial step towards facilitating access to eye care services and reducing the loss of social and economic opportunities for people around the world due to eye conditions.
“It’s up to all of us to help fulfill what the agreement sets out – industry, practitioners, institutions and governments alike. It is a fantastic step forward towards eye care for the world’s 1.1 billion people with preventable sight loss by 2030. 2030 is now in sight and this sets out the roadmap to get there.”
