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has not always been sufficiently integrated at all levels of health care delivery, especially at the primary health care level, nor has it always been included in considerations of health financing.
There is rising evidence that the prevalence of ocular morbidity is quite high and this could be addressed through an integrated primary health care approach. Many policy-makers are not fully aware of the benefits of integrating eye health within primary health care and the health system. The World Health Report 2008 presented four sets of reforms that reflect a convergence between the values of primary health care, the expectations of citizens and the common health performance challenges that cut across all contexts. These reforms are in the areas of universal coverage, service delivery, public policy and leadership.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Blindness and visual impairment still constitute a major challenge for development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. According to the latest WHO estimates, approximately 37 million people in the Region live with visual impairment, due either to eye diseases or uncorrected refractive errors. Of these, 5.3 million people are blind, with 90% living in low- income countries. With today's knowledge and technology, up to 80% of global blindness is preventable or treatable. Cost-effective interventions are available for the major causes of avoidable blindness.
The World Health Assembly has adopted two resolutions, WHA56.26 in 2003 and WHA62.1 in 2009, on the elimination of avoidable blindness and the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment, respectively. In resolution WHA62.1, the World Health Assembly endorsed the action plan for prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment and urged Member States to implement the plan in accordance with national priorities.
Early detection and treatment of common blinding diseases, such as cataract, refractive errors, childhood blindness and trachoma, through community and primary health care within the health system will have a tremendous impact on improving eye health care delivery and prevention of blindness in many countries in the Region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
During the past ten years, significant improvements have been made in advocacy for eye health, particularly in control of cataract and trachoma. Recent surveys in Jordan and Pakistan showed that the prevalence of blindness is decreasing. I am pleased to mention that
3
the Regional Office has supported the conduct of the rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Egypt, Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Sudan and Yemen. It is worth noting that in Iraq, primary eye care is now integrated into primary health care. In Afghanistan, eye care is now included in the basic health package. Meanwhile, there has been substantial progress for the integration of eye care within primary health care in countries such as Bahrain, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Tunisia. However, there is a great deal left to do, and only 10 years remaining to do it, if we are to reach the Vision 2020 goal.
I would like to call on all Member States and partners to start implementing the action plan for the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. In order to strengthen eye health and prevention of avoidable blindness at the community level, it is necessary for primary eye care services to be strengthened.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO is closely working with many partners to address the causes of blindness and visual impairment. Of these, I would like to commend the great contributions of the EMR International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, IMPACT EMR, Sightsavers International, Kuwait Patient Helping Funds, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Noor Dubai, Christian Blind Mission and Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust.
I wish also to thank the representatives of the ministries of health, collaborating centres, facilitators, partners and representatives from nongovernmental organizations working in eye care.
Finally, let me thank His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Chairman, IMPACT-EMR, the Ministry of Health, United Arab Emirates and His Excellency Dr Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director-General, Dubai Health Authority and Chairman of the Noor Dubai Foundation for their continued support in delivering preventive eye care services to millions of people in the Region.
I wish you productive deliberations and a successful outcome of this workshop.
Thank you for your attention.
