“An opportunity to think globally, share knowledge, learning, and challenges to scale and sustain programs.”
IAPB’s international meeting 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE held from June 25 – 26, 2023, in Singapore, concluded successfully, taking forward the global agenda of eye care for all. Over two days, the 300 delegates discussed and deliberated bringing systemic change in countries, regions, sectors, and mindsets to achieve a world where eye care and rehabilitation services are accessible, affordable, and inclusive to all.
The much-awaited meeting in the calendar of the eye care sector featured 100 experts, thought leaders, and change-makers from eye health, development, finance, and many more sectors to address one of the world’s most pressing development issues – eye care for all.
“The meeting was a great opportunity to think globally and share knowledge, learning, and the challenges to scale and sustain programs,” observed John Barrow, President & CEO, IEF of the meeting.
International Eye Foundation’s John Barrow, President & CEO; Raheem Rahmathullah, Director, Sustainable Initiatives and Victoria M Sheffield, Senior Technical Advisory Group Consultant joined by the team from Integrative Sciences LLC representing the USAID Child Blindness Program – Christopher Pearson, Chief of Party; Sean Kelly, Grants Specialist; Nehad Fattah, MEL Specialist; Lizzy Catherwood, Grants Assistant and Maria Vance, Finance Specialist. They had a productive meeting - sharing knowledge and learning strategies to scale and sustain child blindness programs and services.
“The Working Groups provided time to discuss key issues on the imperative to train and retain more personnel, review strategies for task shifting and use of new and better technologies, and address supply chain gaps,” said John.
A key consideration from the meeting for John Barrow was: “Low-cost” eyeglasses are part of the need, but we must improve basic systems to improve access, availability, and acceptability of quality eye care. We can only do this by thinking BIG and through new partnerships and financing strategies!”
The IAPB’s flagship event was hosted by the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI).