This World Sight Day, WCO joined with IAPB as a global partner in their #LoveYourEyes campaign. See how some of our member organizations spent World Sight Day 2021 below.
Cameroon Association of Optometry (CAO)
In collaboration with ENAVI Clinic, the Cameroon Association of Optometry celebrated World Sight Day by providing free eye screenings to about 3000 Cameroonians from the 27th of September to 27th of October 2021 in the Centre, West, and Littoral Regions of Cameroon, with focus on vulnerable groups of women and children.
OCI also held a large World Sight Day screening event on October 14.
European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO)
To mark World Sight Day, ECOO was proud to support the IAPB #LoveYourEyes campaign. In advance of WSD we published an article encouraging people to support the #LoveYourEyes campaign, which was available for members to translate and publish in their own countries. In addition, and also to mark the 1st anniversary of the ECOO Blue Book, we published a new Blue Book infographic setting out some of the key data about eye care provision across Europe. The article and infographic are both available on the ECOO website.
India Vision Institute (IVI)
As the world got ready to commemorate World Sight Day on 14 October, India Vision Institute launched two special campaigns for underprivileged women and transgender individuals in Chennai, reflecting IVI’s focus on gender equality and trans inclusion. Both form part of IVI’s pledge to the #Loveyoureyes campaign by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
The campaign for underprivileged women launched on October 10 at Neelangara, a city suburb, in the presence of Australia’s Consul-General Sarah Kirlew, Thamizhachi Thangapandian MP, Aravind Ramesh, MLA, V E Mathiyalagan, Sholinganallur DMK Zonal Secretary, V Ettiyappan, former Neelangarai Panchayat President, Vivek Mendonsa, Group Director, Marketing, Lawrence & Mayo, and IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel.
IVI is screening women in different localities with the target to achieve 5,000 in six months.
The screenings for transgender individuals are set to benefit 2,000 community members.
The IAPB campaign believes “Everyone needs to be aware of their eye health.” IVI’s two pledges support IAPB’s theme for WSD 2021: it’s all about #LoveYourEyes, and it really is all about being aware of your own eye health and, if you are able to, get a sight test or recommend others do the same.
IVI welcomes those interested to partner with us as we go about providing vision screening access to underprivileged communities and a pair of glasses to those in need. We work in 22 states across India.
Optometrists Association of Kenya (OAK)
In celebration of World Sight Day 2021, the Optometrists Association of Kenya (OAK) organized four events to screen 4,000 or more eyes!
Optometry Council of India (OCI)
The Optometry Council of India (OCI) chose to celebrate through eye screening this World Sight Day. They set a goal to complete 100,000 screenings by their members in 100 days, and they accomplished this goal! This initiative was also supported by Zeiss CSR.
Click here to learn more.
South African Optometric Association (SAOA)
In preparation for World Sight Day 2021, the South African Optometric Association published many “Love Your Eyes” themed posts throughout Eye Care Awareness month.