More than 70 international delegates recently attended the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Council of Members and Board of Trustee meetings in Melbourne, hosted by Vision 2020 Australia.
The meeting was held from 28 September to 2 October at the InterContinental Rialto Towers with attendees coming from the U.S., Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
Organisations included CBM International, Helen Keller International, the International Centre for Eyecare Education, International Council of Ophthalmology, Orbis International, Sightsavers International, The Fred Hollows Foundation, World Blind Union, World Council of Optometry and World Health Organisation.
The event provided an opportunity for the IAPB to convene committees including the Annual General Meeting, Board of Trustees and Council of Members.
The Hon Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, addressed the Council of Members and reaffirmed his personal commitment to placing blindness prevention and the rights of people with disabilities at the centre of Australia’s aid program. As a demonstration of this commitment, Mr. McMullan went on to announce that the Australian Government will fund a Manila-based WHO Regional Blindness Prevention Coordinator position for the next two years.
Hon Dr Barry Jones AO, Chair of Vision 2020 Australia, hosted a dinner at the Melbourne Museum on 30 September. On arrival guests were treated to a traditional indigenous performance by Descendance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre Company.
The dinner celebrated the coming together of Australian and internationally esteemed professionals from the eye health and vision care sector. The Hon Daniel Andrews MP, Victorian Minister for Health delivered the keynote address. Guests also heard from Professor Hugh Taylor, Vice-President of the IAPB and Co-Deputy Chair of Vision 2020 Australia and Mr. Christian Garms, President of IAPB.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column]
