Durban Declaration outlines strategies for blindness prevention
The Declaration states that refractive error is a major health issue impacting on individuals, their families and communities - and is a contributing cause of poverty in the world. It says that half of the estimated global economic impact of avoidable blindness and impaired vision - $US42 billion annually - is due to refractive error.
The Declaration recognizes that the greatest contribution to a severe worldwide lack of refractive error services is the lack of trained personnel to provide them; a need that is most pronounced in poor and marginalized communities.
“The discussions leading up to the Declaration had a monumental impact on how we view the current eye care crisis in so many countries in the world”, said Congress Chairperson, Professor Kovin Naidoo. “In most developing countries, there are no Optometrists, no Schools of Optometry and no one to provide the appropriate refractive error services for the population. It is crucial that these services are established.
"The impact of such services would have a profound impact on child and adult illiteracy rates and significantly impact on poverty through increased employment opportunities and productivity, contributing to the achievement of the U.N.’s Millennium Development Goals”, he said.
The conference, which was attended by more than 650 international delegates, heard that it was critical that appropriate health, education and social welfare systems are also in place to empower local communities, parents and children to contribute to improving their own eye health.
The Congress was hosted by the Optometry Giving Sight’s founding partner, the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE). It was attended by representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (the peak body on avoidable blindness), World Council Optometry, International non-government organization planners, professional associations and leading clinical and public health scientists.
The Durban Declaration resolved to:
- Create global awareness of the impact of refractive error on sufferers, their families and community and the need for services;
- Advocate to National Governments and world health care agencies for the policies, services and resources required to meet the needs;
- Strive to overcome the barriers that prevent those with refractive error and low vision from obtaining the same services, rights and opportunities as others;
- Ensure refractive error services are prioritized in planning and development of National Health Plans;
- Invest in training of eye care workers and professionals;
- Support the establishment of global distribution channels to make high quality spectacles available;
- Encourage research and application of the results to achieving the most effective solutions; and
- Work to build relationships with private sector and service providers to expand availability of sustainable services.
