Australia and New Zealand have joined more than 60 countries in calling on the United Nations to create a Special Envoy on Vision to act as a global champion for vision and eye health.
The Envoy would build on the significant momentum developed around eye health over the past three years and enable a global advocate to lead the implementation of the 2021 UN General Assembly resolution on “Vision for Everyone”.
The Envoy would coordinate with relevant UN agencies, including the World Health Organization, and mobilise action at the national level
The Envoy would coordinate with relevant UN agencies, including the World Health Organization, and mobilise action at the national level, ensuring that the necessary resources and technical assistance are provided, particularly in low-and middle-income countries.
The letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres says it is an “opportunity to ensure all people around the world have equitable access to eye health and to tackle a development issue which can be solved this decade”.
To coincide with the letter from UN member states, over 150 CEOs and leaders of eye health organisations around the world have also written to the Secretary-General to support the establishment of a Special Envoy on Vision.
Australian and New Zealand signatories to the letter include the Fred Hollows Foundation, the Australian Ophthalmic Nurses Association, the Eye Bank Association of Australian and New Zealand, Eye Health Aotearoa, the Lions Eye Bank of Western Australia, and Sight for All.
The full letter is available on the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindess website.
