CBM and VISION 2020
Founding Member and Implementing Partner
CBM is a founding member of VISION 2020. Within this world-wide campaign, CBM concentrates on performing cataract operations, the control of eye infections especially trachoma and the prevention of childhood blindness as well as training for eye care personnel.
The three essential components to make a person see are:
CBM’s partners aim to meet these three requirements.
CBM is also lobbying at a policy level to ensure that blindness prevention is given priority in the health policies of developing countries as well as being included as an important component of poverty alleviation in the development agenda of donor countries.
The three essential components to make a person see are:
- A team of competent eye care professionals (eye surgeons, nurses)
- Equipment and supplies (medical equipment and medicines)
- The patient and their community (The patient and the community must have access to medical eye care provided.)
CBM’s partners aim to meet these three requirements.
CBM is also lobbying at a policy level to ensure that blindness prevention is given priority in the health policies of developing countries as well as being included as an important component of poverty alleviation in the development agenda of donor countries.
The Next Steps
VISION 2020 works towards the implementation of VISION 2020 National Prevention of Blindness Plans in all countries around the world.
- Groups of communities with high levels of blindness will be identified.
- Eye-care infrastructure and manpower will be provided to these communities - within catchment populations of 500,000 to 1 million people.
- Affordable high quality eye care services will be provided using these resources.
The Future
It is estimated that without VISION 2020 the number of blind people will increase to 75 Million within the next 20 years. The goal of VISION 2020 is that by the year 2020, nobody will go blind, whose blindness could be prevented or treated.
One important step towards achieving the VISION 2020 aim was a Resolution by all Member States at the 56th World Health Assembly, stating that they would:
Go back: VISION 2020
Further Reading: History of VISION 2020
One important step towards achieving the VISION 2020 aim was a Resolution by all Member States at the 56th World Health Assembly, stating that they would:
- develop National Prevention of Blindness Plans by 2006,
- implement them by 2007 and
- produce evaluated results by 2010.
Go back: VISION 2020
Further Reading: History of VISION 2020
Download brochures on VISION 2020 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The brochure "CBM - Update on the current status of VISION 2020" provides more detailed information on CBM's contribution to VISION 2020.
The impact of VISION 2020 on the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is explained in the brochure produced by IAPB and VISION 2020: "Blindness, Poverty and Development", which quotes from studies, some of which were conducted by Professor Allen Foster, CBM President at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The International Disability and Development Consortium, IDDC, of which CBM is a member, relates the eight MDGs to disability in a concise one-pager "MDGs and Disabilitiy - IDDC", which is also available for download below.
The impact of VISION 2020 on the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is explained in the brochure produced by IAPB and VISION 2020: "Blindness, Poverty and Development", which quotes from studies, some of which were conducted by Professor Allen Foster, CBM President at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The International Disability and Development Consortium, IDDC, of which CBM is a member, relates the eight MDGs to disability in a concise one-pager "MDGs and Disabilitiy - IDDC", which is also available for download below.
