2018 in Review: CEO Update

Published: 17.12.2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As 2018 comes to a close it’s a great opportunity that as a sector we remember the progress we have made. Here are just a few highlights in 2018:

Nepal and Ghana have eliminated Trachoma with the help and dedication of IAPB members.
At their Heads of Government meeting in the United Kingdom (CHOGM), Commonwealth leaders agreed to ensure all citizens have access to quality eye care,
The Islamic Development Bank committed more than $30 million to conduct 100,000 cataract surgeries.
Standard Chartered Bank and the Seeing is Believing initiative raised their grand total of $100 million USD
The UN friends of Vision convened for the first time, and
The WHO has made vital progress to compile the World Report on Vision.

Looking to 2019, we face some significant opportunities and challenges. The World Report on Vision, due mid-2019, is likely to set the agenda for eye care for the next decade. We will need to work and engage with governments, policy makers and the wider health sector to ensure its proposals are acted on. The UN Friends of Vision offers the chance to get Eye Health on the wider UN and development agenda, which is especially important in 2019 when there will be a particular focus on Universal Health Coverage at the UN. And, of course, IAPB has a new secretariat plan that sets out our priorities and how we will work with members to ensure the future and strength of the alliance.

On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone for the very warm welcome I have received to IAPB. I spent the last 10 days in Mongolia and China and got a great sense of the work our members do bringing eye care everywhere, in some of the most challenging circumstances. I’d like to thank all of our members, patrons and supporters for your support in 2018. I’d like to wish you all the very best for 2019 and very much look forward to continuing to build on our work together next year.

Photo credit: Merry Christmas background by Freepik.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”light-row rebelcell prev-blind”][vc_column width=”1/2″ el_class=”cellspace”][vc_column_text]