Eye care leaders call on sector to unite behind global compact

Eye care organisations have called on the sector to unite behind a global compact designed to accelerate global action to end avoidable vision loss and ensure “everyone, everywhere can access quality eye care services.”

In a joint statement, 14 eye health and development organisations called for the eye care sector to unite behind the St John’s Global Compact for Eye Health ahead of the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health in November.

The compact has been described as the first global multi-stakeholder agreement to end avoidable sight loss.

The compact provides a shared framework for governments, international institutions, civil society and the private sector that seeks to “turn ambition into action.”

Endorsing the compact signals an organisation’s commitment to a coordinated international effort to advancing eye health as a global priority and addressing avoidable sight loss.

Signatories of the joint statement included David Endicott, the CEO of Alcon, Ross Pipe, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation, Jacqueline Henderson, company group chair, vision at Johnson & Johnson, and Jesper Wiegandt, CEO of Zeiss Vision Care.

More than 100 countries and organisations have already endorsed the compact.

Jessica Thompson, deputy CEO at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), said: “We already have the evidence, innovation and partnerships needed to end avoidable sight loss. What we need now is greater collective commitment and coordinated action.”

The compact provides an opportunity for sector organisations to “demonstrate their support for a shared global agenda to end avoidable sight loss,” Thompson said.

“Every endorsement strengthens our collective voice and brings us one step closer to a future where everyone, everywhere can access the eye care they need,” Thompson added.

The inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health will take place in Antigua and Barbuda on 2 November.

Jude Stern, optometrist and director of knowledge and capability building at IAPB, told OT why the Global Summit for Eye Health represents a major milestone for eye care. Read the interview here.