IAPB brings the eye health sector together to tackle the key challenges of the next decade

IAPB is meeting this week for its most ambitious event ever, 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE. The overarching alliance for the global eye health sector, with more than 180 members in over 100 countries, has brought together leaders, innovators and change-makers in the eye health sector to create radical change.

2030 IN SIGHT LIVE is taking place in Dubai and online, and is being hosted in partnership with Noor Dubai and Seva Foundation.

IAPB launched 2030 In Sight, a new 10-year strategy for the sector earlier in 2021. The strategy aims to ensure that everyone in the world has the access to eye care and rehabilitation services they need by the end of the decade. The strategy wants to; elevate eye health as a fundamental economic, social and development issue, integrate eye health within wider health care, and activate consumer demand and drive market change.

2030 IN SIGHT LIVE is giving attendees exclusive learning opportunities and insights featuring global key opinion leaders. Speakers at the event include His Excellency, President Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, Vice-Chair UN Global Compact, Caroline Casey, President of the IAPB, Alarcos Cieza, Unit Head, Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation, WHO, Reade Fahs, CEO, National Vision, Amit Chaudhary, Co-founder LensKart, Yoko Saiki, General Manager, Vision Strategy Promotion, Santen and many more.

To coincide with 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE, IAPB announces that H.E. Ambassador Walton Webson, Permanent Representative, Mission of Antigua and Barbuda and Co-chair of the UN Friends of Vision Group has joined IAPB as a Global Ambassador.

Before becoming UN Ambassador in 2014, Ambassador Webson worked for several non-governmental organisations including Sightsavers International, The Caribbean Council for the Blind, Hellen Keller International and Perkins International.

Ambassador Webson said “I am delighted to be joining IAPB as a Global Ambassador, continuing to work closely with IAPB to further promote the importance of eye health as an essential accelerator of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Last year’s unprecedented United Nations General Assembly Resolution committed countries to eye care for the world’s 1.1 billion people with preventable sight loss by 2030. As an IAPB Global Ambassador, I will continue to champion the cause of eye health around the world and look forward to working with the eye health community.”

Welcoming Ambassador Webson Peter Holland CEO of IAPB said “Ambassador Webson has long been a good friend of our sector. As founder of the Friends of Vision at the United Nations, he was instrumental in getting the first-ever UN Resolution on Eye Health. We are excited that he is joining our group of global ambassadors to promote the work of IAPB around the world and champion the cause of eye health.”

Speaking about the event Peter Holland continued “We are delighted to be bringing people together from around to world to co-create the radical change and new partnerships needed to ensure that by 2030 no one experiences unnecessary or preventable sight loss and everyone can achieve their full potential.”

Image: Opinion leaders address delegates at 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE