Telangana Health Minister Dr C. Laxma Reddy today flagged off “Walk for Vision” here at KBR Park to promote eye health. The walk was organised as part of Vision 2020, a global initiative that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.
The walk was organised on the occasion of World Sight Day, which is observed in over 60 countries across the world around a universal theme. This year’s theme is ‘Stronger Together’. Some 1,000 people participated in the walk.
The aim of the walk was to create awareness on avoidable blindness among the community as 80% of blindness is avoidable. Prevention and treatment of vision loss are among the most cost-effective and successful of all health interventions.
Flagging off the awareness walk, Laxma Reddy said all efforts should be made to eliminate avoidable blindness by year 2020. Encouraging the holding of such awareness walks, he said, “Awareness walks to educate masses on eye care should also be held in rural areas where it is more needed.”
Dr Promila Gupta, Deputy Director General, National Program for Control of Blindness, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, said “To eliminate avoidable blindness from the country, the government requires the support of eye care fraternity in the country,”
Dr T P Das, Regional Chair, South East Asia, International Agency for Prevention of Blindness and Vice Chair, LVPEI, Phanindra Babu Nukella, CEO, VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – India, R Govind Hari, South Zone Representative of VISION 2020 – India also spoke. (NSS)