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2024 was a fruitful year for Latin America, proving the success of IAPB’s re-engagement strategy with the region. At the close of November, the IAPB membership has tripled from 2021.
The June meeting of 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE, Mexico City, saw more than 130 Latin-American eyecare leaders join 300 of their peers from around the globe to share experiences, knowledge and explore inter-regional cooperation and projects. The event demonstrated that Latin America can be at the forefront of global efforts to elevate and activate discussions on public health and eye health. At the close of the Congress, the Latin America members organisations of IAPB signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work more closely together on areas such as advocacy and research.
Additionally, the China-Latin America Eye Health Institutions Forum, held on the sidelines, showcased IAPB’s strength in fostering global relationships. This breakfast meeting facilitated the exchange of best practices and challenges, leading to several Latin American members visiting He University in China. This collaboration exemplifies how we can Elevate, Integrate, and Activate across continents.
The Systems Leadership course, implemented in Colombia in 2023, continued to progress. The activities undertaken by the focus organisations, highlighted the systemic approach perspective to integrating eye health. Key strategies, included: new approaches to the education of ophthalmology residents in Colombia; telemedicine services for Puebla in Mexico; surgical services for emigrants in Guatemala, and the strengthening of cross-sectoral national coordination in Paraguay.
Meetings in Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia, involving government representatives, health ministries, eye care leaders, and IAPB members, highlighted the integration of services and promotion of refractive error targets. These efforts are crucial as we prepare for the Global Eye Health Summit 2026. Paraguay has been nominated as a SPECS focus country.
The tools are essential for systemic changes needed to achieve the 2030 In Sight goals. Fundacion Vision in Paraguay included advocacy strategies in their Community Eye Health course, and Brazilian members integrated eye health with indigenous health.
World Sight Day celebrations embraced the Love Your Eyes Kids theme, engaging stakeholders and communities. Educational webinars were held in Mexico and Peru, and an integration workshop was hosted in Colombia. Community campaigns focused on children’s refractive error services, ROP, and healthy living in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Paraguay, and Guatemala.
Argentina continues to support World Sight Day as a national day.
