Vision 2020 Australia has welcomed the Australian Labor Party’s announcement that it is committed to re-investing in eye health in the Pacific region should it take government at the upcoming Federal election.
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) has committed to providing AU$32 million to a new Pacific Blindness and Vision Loss Fund to address declining eye health across the region. Vision2020 has called on the current Australian Government to match that commitment.
Australia can, and should, do more… we welcome the leadership demonstrated by the ALP in establishing the Pacific Blindness and Vision Loss Fund
“There are currently around 40,000 people who are blind in the Pacific region, with almost 170,000 who have a vision impairment,” said Vision 2020 Australia CEO Judith Abbott. “If no action is taken, these numbers are forecast to significantly worsen.
“Australia can, and should, do more to address this and we welcome the leadership demonstrated by the ALP in establishing the Pacific Blindness and Vision Loss Fund.
“No matter who wins the upcoming election, we are calling on the next Australian Government to commit to a new Pacific Blindness and Vision Loss Fund to address eye-health across the region,” said Ms Abbott.
The Pacific Blindness and Vison Loss Fund will primarily focus on treating significant eye diseases, strengthening health systems and training health personnel.
According to Vision2020, this is an important development program which will have a positive impact on thousands of our nearest neighbours and should be embraced as a bi-partisan initiative.
By working in partnership, Vision 2020 Australia’s members have shown they are very effective at delivering Australian aid. The Avoidable Blindness Initiative was funded by the last Labor Government and delivered significant improvements in eye-health across the Asia-Pacific region.
