World Sight Day
World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October, is a global event meant to draw attention on blindness and vision impairment. It was originally initiated by the SightFirstCampaign of Lions Club International Foundation in 2000
Why is World Sight Day important
Oxygen access has been a long-neglected element of health system planning, despite being an essential treatment for a range of diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the role of medical oxygen as a life-saving therapy for patients struggling to breathe. This World Pneumonia Day, we are calling on governments and other stakeholders to ensure that the massive effort to control the pandemic contributes to reducing ‘all-cause respiratory infections and deaths among both children and adults for the long term.
How to observe World Sight Day
- Raise public awareness of blindness & vision impairment as major international public health issues.
- Influence Governments/Ministers of Health to participate in and designate funds for national blindness prevention programmes.
- Educate target audiences about blindness prevention.
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You can make a difference during World Sight Day (and throughout the year) by contributing to organizations dedicated to eradicating global vision impairment and blindness. Your donation can improve the vision of people in your community and around the world.
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Resources
- Raise funds for eye care: Optometry Giving Sight
- Learn more the impact of visual impairment on the global community
- Respiratory System in Humans
Reference Sites
- UN and other international NGO
- Non-Profits website for the observance
