Chat with Hermann Holst, owner of Vision Care Seychelles |27 December 2019
Mr Holst (Photo: Anel Robert)
‘Vision Care will offer free comprehensive eye tests throughout the year 2020’
Starting January 2020, Vision Care will be offering fully comprehensive eye tests for free throughout the year 2020 in all its outlets which falls under the global initiative of VISION 2020. Every patient will be tested for sight threatening conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, hypertensive retinopathy, age related macula degeneration, cataract and other conditions.
Seychelles NATION contacted Hermann Holst, owner of Vision Care Seychelles, to know more about the VISION 2020 initiative.
Seychelles NATION: Please tell us more about the VISION 2020 initiative?
Hermann Holst: VISION 2020 is a global initiative that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. It was launched on February 18, 1999 by the World Health Organisation together with the more than 20 international non-governmental organisations involved in eye care and prevention and management of blindness that comprise the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). VISION 2020 is a partnership that provides guidance, technical and resource support to countries that have formally adopted its agenda.
Seychelles NATION: What is its mission and objectives?
Hermann Holst: The mission of the VISION 2020 Global Initiative is to eliminate the main causes of all preventable and treatable blindness as a public health issue by the year 2020. ‘VISION 2020: The Right to Sight’ accomplishes its mission as it attains the three 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; and facilitate the planning, development and implementation of the three core Vision 2020 strategies by national programmes.
Seychelles NATION: What are the core strategies?
Hermann Holst: The core strategies of Vision 2020 are disease control: facilitate the implementation of specific programmes to control and treat the major causes of blindness; human resource development: support training of ophthalmologists and other eye care personnel to provide eye care and Infrastructure and appropriate technology development: assist to improve infrastructure and technology to make eye care more available and accessible.
Seychelles NATION: What is the role of Vision Care Seychelles in this initiative?
Hermann Holst: Vision Care Seychelles is offering FREE fully comprehensive eye tests throughout the year 2020 in all its outlets. You will be tested for sight threatening conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, hypertensive retinopathy, age related macula degeneration, cataract and other conditions. We are closely working with local and international specialists and we are asking all our fellow citizens to use this unique opportunity to take control of their vision and health. Vision Care Seychelles will also provide you with exceptional offers when it comes to frames and lenses. We also help you to protect your eyes from the damaging UV rays by providing complete prescribed sunglasses with single vision lenses from as little as R900 and R1600 for sunglasses with progressive lenses. This offer will also run for the whole year 2020. Vision Care Seychelles is offering professional service with a proven track record by qualified professionals. Let us all work together to achieve the goal of VISION 2020 for our country, the beautiful Seychelles.
Who is Hermann Holst?
Hermann Holst is the chief executive and head optometrist at Vision Care Seychelles. He is originally from Hamburg, Germany. For the last 33 years he has been dedicating his life for the promotion of good eye care, first in Namibia and for the last 17 years in Seychelles. Vision Care has now five optical outlets on Mahé and Praslin. He himself goes to hand pick his range of stylish frames in Milan, Paris, Munich and Hong Kong.
Vidya Gappy