India has a quarter of the 284 million people of the world who are visually impaired.

This shocking statement was made by Dr. Sujaya Krishnan, Director National Blindness Control Programme, India while addressing a press conference held in Udaipur on the eve of World Sight Day 2011 which is observed on October 13, 2011.

Dr. Krishnan said, “That’s only by proper measures and strong health strategy which can prevent 80% of the blindness occurring due to eye cataract.”

Alakh Nayan Mandir Eye Institute of Udaipur in joint coordination with International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is organizing a two days National Conference in Udaipur as part of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight.

The conference is attended by participants coming from all over the country. Many organizations and representatives from Udaipur will also attend the conference which aims to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

“Vision 2020 member organizations are working together to eliminate avoidable blindness by year 2020, in order to give everyone in the world the Right to Sight,” said Dr. Laxmi Jhala, the executive trustee of Alakh Nayan Mandir in the press conference held at Darbar Hall, today.

Further elaborating the aim, Dr. Laxmi Jhala said, “The event primarily aims at sensitizing the media and public at large towards the issue of blindness. The symposium will address issues related to preparing long term action plan for combating blindness in India and especially this region.”

“Alakh Nayan Mandir is one of active partners of Vision 2020 and has contributed significantly in the field of blindness prevention and control in Udaipur region, hence it has been given the responsibility to host this year’s World Sight Day event,” she added.

Some major objectives of the event are as follows:

· Advocacy for Eye Care through World Sight Day

· Advocacy for Eye Care in India

· Human Resource Development and Capacity Building

· Health Management Information System

· Infection Control Guidelines

· Enhancing availability and accessibility of quality eye care services

· Publications

· Two standard Manuals

For detail schedule of programme and information about the speakers, please follow this link