Eye care not often a priority

 WORLD Sight Day will be celebrated tomorrow.

The annual event is observed on the second Thursday of October each year. 

This year will mark the launch of a new World Health Organisation action plan on the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. 

In keeping with the main thrust of action plan, the theme for World Sight Day 2013 is universal eye health

In Papua New Guinea, eye health is not often seen as a priority area. 

Yet, there are hundreds of thousands of Papua New Guineans who are afflicted by eye conditions ranging from cataract to a need of spectacles. 

As well as placing considerable strain on individuals, there is a significant economic burden. 

To raise awareness of these issues, the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) funded the formation of a National Prevention of Blindness Committee of PNG (NPBLPNG).

The NPBLPNG is coordinating activities across the country. 

In Madang, the Fred Hollows Foundation will host an event at Divine Word University; CBM and Callan Services will host an event in Goroka; in Port Moresby a public rally jointly organised by St John’s Services for the Blind and the POM General Hospital eye clinic will take place at Boroko and the NPBL committee will present a national eye plan to the Department of Health. 

The week of events will culminate with the launch of the World Sight Day report at a cocktail hosted by PNG Eye Care in Port Moresby on behalf of the NPBLPNG.