By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: Sightsavers, an international non-governmental organization on Thursday urged to increase investment in eye care as improved access to services could generate an estimated $709 million in economic benefits for the country by 2030.
The call was made on World Sight Day, observed on October 8, as Sightsavers highlighted the need for greater investment in cataract surgery, spectacles and digital accessibility for people with visual impairment.
According to Sightsavers, around 26 million people in Pakistan were living with vision impairment in 2020, while early intervention in childhood vision impairment could increase lifetime earnings by 57 per cent.
Sightsavers organized a range of activities to mark World Sight Day, including eye and hearing screening and general health assessments at non-formal education schools in Islamabad, community awareness walks, eye screening for truckers in Lahore and awareness sessions in schools.
The organisation said good eye care enabled children to learn, adults to work and communities to improve productivity, making investment in eye health both a public health priority and an economic opportunity.
Munazza Gillani, Director Pakistan and Middle East at Sightsavers, said solutions such as spectacles, cataract surgery and stronger eye care systems were already available, but many people still lacked access to essential services.
She called for government, donors and public and private sector stakeholders to turn commitments into action and integrate eye health into health, education, livelihood and road safety programmes.
Sightsavers said its activities were also aligned with global efforts ahead of the first Global Summit for Eye Health, scheduled for November and hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to working with the government and partners in Pakistan to strengthen inclusive and accessible eye care services and help prevent avoidable vision impairment.
