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VISION 2020: The Right to Sight - INDIA

VISION 2020 India had a significant start to 2009, with the continuation of initiatives from the last quarter.

The VISION 2020 INDIA team and government officials from the Maharashtra State Health Society (SHS) met with the Brand Ambassador (Padmashri Smt. Hema Malini) and got her consent to participate in the World Sight Day-2009 (WSD-2009) celebrations, performing a ballet to raise resources for VISION 2020 INDIA. The ED Vision 2020 India provided faculty support to the ICARE/ LVPEI Diploma in Community Eye Health (DCEH) Course.

A preliminary meeting for a collaborative venture with the Eye Banking Association of India (EBAI) was undertaken during the first quarter of the year.

All India Ophthalmological Conference, 2009: The VISION 2020 INDIA group participated actively in the AIOS conference this year. Besides having the XXI Board Meeting in Jaipur on 4th February 2009, the VISION 2020 INDIA team was there to be part of the AIOC 2009 with a two-hour session on VISION 2020 on the first day and a booth to disseminate information about VISION 2020 INDIA and its activities. Presentations made at the meeting covered topics such as: changing trends in global blindness, a model for quality equitable eye care, a model Vision Centre, quality comprehensive eye care, VISION 2020, the mission fast forward, Govt. of India initiative and how does one maximize the benefit, international NGO initiatives, how does the state VISION 2020 function, and why support VISION 2020.

A web-based MIS solution for NPCB was explored with a team visiting Mumbai to review the MIS used by the Maharashtra SHS. The new system planned would help NPCB monitor the program more effectively and efficiently.

The VISION 2020 INDIA group participated in the joint review of the Maharashtra state plan, and also visited members and other potential organizations as part of its efforts towards networking and creating partnerships.

While welcoming 3 new members to the VISION 2020 INDIA group, the fraternity has grown to 71 members. Collaborative work in progress by VISION 2020 INDIA group:

• A proposal originating from EBAI and technically supported by VISION 2020 INDIA on “Strengthening Eye Banking in India” has been submitted to NPCB for consideration.

• Efforts are on to get the support of spiritual leaders to promote eye donation in India.

• A draft document on “Outbreak Policy” has been submitted to NPCB for consideration. It is currently under review by various stakeholders. Two new team members have strengthened the VISION 2020 INDIA group office and capacity building activities were undertaken in the quarter.

Future Plans

The economic recession has provided an opportunity to the VISION 2020 INDIA Team to re-visit its Strategic Plan and will consult its 31 members from 26 organizations while updating and reviewing the plans for CY09 and 10.