Get Short and Long World Sight Day Speech in English Here!

World Sight Day Speech: Every year on the second Thursday of October, the world celebrates World Sight Day. This global event aims to raise awareness about vision impairment and blindness. The event was started in 2000 by Lions Club International’s SightFirstCampaign. This article contains a World Sight Day Speech that you can use to raise awareness about the occasion.

Furthermore, the entire event became VISION 2020, which IAPB (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness) coordinated with WHO’s assistance (World Health Organization).

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Eyesight and eye health are important aspects of one’s life, and World Sight Day is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the topic. This also aims to raise awareness of the global need for better eye care services. On this day, Lions Clubs around the world conduct sight-related projects such as eye-health education, eyeglass donations, restorative surgeries, vision screening, and donating other assistive devices to people suffering from vision impairment issues.

Continue reading to get Short and Long World Sight Day Speech that you can use to create your own World Sight Day speech.

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Short World Sight Day Speech

Long world sight day speech, world sight day speech faqs.

Use the short speech provided below to help you write a World Sight Day Speech. This World Sight Day Speech in English will give you a clue about how to write your own short speech on World Sight day.

Good day, everyone! It is an honour and a privilege for me to be a part of such a joyous occasion. My name is XYZ. Today is World Sight Day, an annual event that draws global attention to blindness and vision impairment.

World Sight Day is an annual awareness day observed around the world to raise awareness of blindness and vision impairment. World Sight Day (WSD) is an international awareness day held on the second Thursday of October each year to draw attention to the global issue of eye health. This year’s World Sight Day is on October 13th, 2022, and the theme is “Love Your Eyes.” 

The World Health Organization created this day in collaboration with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, and awareness is spread through a variety of events.

For many years, World Sight Day has been supported by a large number of organisations all over the world. Some choose to show their support by planting trees, while others participate by submitting a photograph that will be used to create an international photograph montage centred on the theme of blindness.

Other activities on this day include special fundraising walks to help cover the costs of operations, book readings for the blind, and the creation of a number of booklets and posters to raise awareness of the issue.

The Lions Club International Foundation’s Sight First Campaign established the first World Sight Day in 2000. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness coordinates the day, which was eventually incorporated into VISION 2020. Since 2005, a yearly call to action has focused on specific needs for the visually impaired.

I’d like to conclude by emphasising the significance of community involvement and participation, as well as the consultation process. The government cannot do anything on its own. Can the planning and management of health services in your community be successful with your assistance and input? 

We must become involved in local structures such as clinic committees regarding health services and programmes, and by doing so, you can help to monitor the Batho Pele principles and the Patients Charter Rights.

We can accomplish more if we work together!

You can modify the above-mentioned speech on World Sight day for students to suit your needs and prepare your own short World Sight Day Speech.

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Use the long speech on World Sight day in English provided below to help you write a World Sight Day Speech.

World Sight Day is an annual event held on the second Thursday of October to raise awareness about blindness and vision impairment. It was founded in 2000 by the Lions Club International Foundation’s SightFirstCampaign.

World Sight Day (WSD) is an international awareness day held on the second Thursday of October each year to draw attention to the global issue of eye health. This year’s World Sight Day is on October 13, 2022. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) announced earlier this year that the theme of #LoveYourEyes will be carried forward for World Sight Day 2022, building on the success of last year’s campaign, which saw over 3.5 million pledges to prioritise eye health.

The Love Your Eyes campaign encourages people to take care of their own eyes and raises awareness of the over a billion people worldwide who are blind or have limited access to eye care.

This year, the IAPB is asking members and others in the sector to conduct sight screenings in national legislatures, assemblies, and presidential and royal palaces to raise awareness of the importance of eye health among politicians and decision-makers.

One billion people worldwide have either a preventable or unaddressed vision impairment. Reduced or absent vision can have a significant and long-term impact on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, community interaction, school and work opportunities, and the ability to access public services.

Reduced vision can be caused by a variety of factors, including diabetes and trachoma, eye trauma, or conditions such as refractive error, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, or glaucoma.

On October 8, 1998, Lions Clubs International joined forces with blindness prevention organisations around the world to commemorate the first World Sight Day. This event was later incorporated into VISION 2020, a global initiative coordinated by the IAPB. This initiative is a collaborative effort between WHO and the IAPB. Non-governmental organisations, professional associations, eye-care institutions, and corporations are all involved.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations’ directing and coordinating authority for health, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) are actively involved in organising World Sight Day events and activities.

For many years, organisations such as Lions Clubs International have been actively involved in promoting the day.

Many communities, associations, and non-governmental organisations collaborate with WHO and IAPB to raise public awareness of blindness and vision impairment as major international public health issues.

It is critical to persuade governments, particularly health ministers, to support and fund national blindness prevention programmes.

I’d like to conclude by emphasising the significance of community involvement and participation, as well as the consultation process. The government cannot do anything on its own. Can the planning and management of health services in your community be successful with your assistance and input? We must become involved in local structures such as clinic committees regarding health services and programmes, and by doing so, you can help to monitor the Batho pele principles and the Patients Charter Rights.

You can modify the above-mentioned student world Sight day speech to prepare your long World Sight Day Speech as needed.

Hope you found this article on World Sight Day Speech helpful.

Every year on the second Thursday of October, World Sight Day is observed. The date for World Sight Day 2022 is October 13th, 2022.

World Sight Day was established in 2000 by Lion Clubs International as part of the ‘SightFirst’ campaign.

Visual impairment and blindness are two distinct scenarios. Visual impairment is a decrease in the ability to see to a certain degree that causes problems. The glasses can temporarily fix this. Blindness, on the other hand, is defined as the complete loss of vision caused by any disease, injury, or genetic problem.

The theme for this year’s celebrations was ‘Love Your Eyes.’

The best way to commemorate World Post Day is to raise awareness on social media. You can use various social media handles and platforms to raise awareness about the importance of vision and eye care services.

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World Sight Day

Every october, sightsavers celebrates the importance of sight. this year, world sight day falls on 10 october 2024. in 2023 we took action on social media by encouraging people to get involved in our #eyecreation ..

A collage of many creative images of eyes, made from different materials including Lego, sand, books, fruit and people.

You can change someone’s life on World Sight Day

World sight day is an annual event to raise awareness about the importance of eye care worldwide..

Globally, 1.1 billion people have an untreated or preventable visual impairment . That’s an eighth of the world’s population – almost as many people as there are in Europe and the USA combined.  

We believe everyone, including w omen, girls, and people with disabilities , should have access to the services they need . When we tackle avoidable blindness, children can learn and adults can earn , helping nations to thrive and reducing poverty and inequality.  

That’s why, to mark World Sight Day 2023 on Thursday 12 October, we took to social media   to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive eye health. Our #EyeCreation spread the word by encouraging our partners and supporters to use their imagination, creating eye-catching images to share far and wide.

An eye shape created out of string.

#EyeCreation: how people got involved

1. To help us mark World Sight Day 2023, supporters created an eye shape out of whatever materials they had to hand. The more unusual the better!

2. We encouraged creativity and imagination: we shared our gallery below for inspiration. We then asked for photos of the creation.

3. Supporters shared their photos on social media using the hashtag #EyeCreation , saying why eye health is important, and tagging @Sightsavers.

Stawberries and lemon in an eye shape.

How we protect sight around the world

speech on world sight day

We train eye surgeons

Our work relies on thousands of skilled staff. Since 1950, we’ve trained more than 3,800 ophthalmic nurses and 1,000 cataract surgeons. A guide to eye health roles

speech on world sight day

We distribute medicine

Local volunteers are trained to check people’s symptoms, distribute preventative medication and refer patients for further treatment if they need it. How we distribute medication

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We improve health care

Sightsavers works with national governments and partners to improve local health services, ensuring everyone can get health care when they need it. How we improve health systems

Our success stories

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Treating cataracts in Zambia: “Their future is going to be bright”

Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness. On World Sight Day, learn what Sightsavers is doing to protect the sight of children with cataracts in Zambia.

Shamima and her child Toha in Bangladesh. There's an illustrated ring of small dots surrounding their faces.

It started with a tuk-tuk: how Shamima’s sight was saved

Shamima, who has hearing and speech impairments, was able to access vital treatment for cataracts after her sister heard about Sightsavers’ free eye camps.

Gladys Atto in her doctor's uniform, smiling at the camera.

A day in the life: the only ophthalmologist in Karamoja

“My name is Dr Gladys Atto. I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child, and I am very proud to be an ophthalmologist and have an impact on people’s lives.”

Change lives on World Sight Day

Naomi receives an application of ointment for her eyes to treat her trachoma infection.

could treat or protect 111 people against trachoma.

A queue of school children in uniform line up to receive an eye examination.

could screen 40 schoolchildren for a range of eye conditions.

A close-up of Patience wearing glasses and a face mask.

could provide 31 pairs of glasses.

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10 Lines on World Sight Day for Students and Children in English

December 28, 2020 by Prasanna

10 Lines on World Sight Day: Annually, the global people celebrate World Sight Day on the second Thursday of October. This event is a global one that aims at drawing attention towards vision impairment and Blindness. Lions Club International’s SightFirstCampaign originally initiated the event in 2000.

Further, the entire occasion got transformed into VISION 2020 that IAPB (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness) coordinated with WHO’s assistance (World Health Organization).

Eyesight and eye health play a vital role in one’s life, and World Sight Day is the perfect occasion to spread awareness about the entire aspect and its importance. This also aims at promoting the need of better eye care services for the global people. On this particular occasion, Lions Club conducts some sight-related projects across the World, like the education schemes for better eye health, donations of eyeglasses, restorative surgeries, screening of vision, and donating other assistive devices for the people suffering from some vision impairment issues.

You can read more  10 Lines  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Set 1 – 10 Lines on World Sight Day for kids

Here is a list of 10 best lines on World Sight Day for the students of class 1st to 5th:

  • The second Thursday of October is dedicated to World Sight Day.
  • The day aims at spreading awareness about eye health and eye care services. It is essential to take care of the eyes.
  • Eyes play a vital role in one’s lives, and World Sight day draws attention towards Blindness and other visual impairment issues.
  • Several entities celebrate the day by donating the needful items to the people having any visual impairment problems.
  • This is a global event that focuses on a world-wide issue of Blindness and other eyesight related issues.
  • The occasion aims to spread awareness among the people about the prevention measures and treatments of loss of vision issues.
  • This global occasion also focuses on the government’s pledges to ensure better eye care services and other prevention and treatment facilities for eyesight issues.
  • Statistics reveal that around 80% of cases of visual Impairment and Blindness are avoidable.
  • This is because 20% of the cases are preventable, and 60% are treatable for restoring the proper eyesight.
  • Treating and preventing vision loss is one of the most successful and cost-effective methods among all the other health interventions.

Set 2 – 10 lines of World Sight Day for School Children

Here is a list of 10 lines on World Sight Day for the students of classes 5th to 8th:

  • Every year people cheerfully celebrate World Sight Day on Second Thursday of October.
  • Every five-second, a person goes blind, and every minute a child goes blind. This occasion of World Sight Day is there to address all such cases.
  • Poverty and lack of better eye care services are the two primary reasons behind Blindness and visual impairment challenges, and this day is to spread awareness about the same.
  • Launched in 1999, The Right to Sight movement of VISION 2020, is the step taken to eliminate the avoidable and preventable Blindness by the end of 2020 for achieving better development.
  • International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the World Health
  • Organization combinedly started VISION 2020.
  • Several governmental and non-governmental organizations, including the institutes, schools, and other prominent bodies, take several measures to address Blindness and Visual Impairment issues.
  • VISION 2020 targets five leading causes of preventable Blindness, including Cataract, Trachoma, Low Vision, Onchocerciasis, and refractive errors.
  • Childhood and adult blindness issues, both are addressed in the events held at this occasion to ensure better eye care. This day targets the global issue of Blindness and globally raises public awareness for treating and preventing loss of vision.
  • All the involved bodies of the events also organize several events on this day for the benefits of those suffering from eyesight related issues and blindness problems.

Set 3 – 10 Lines on World Sight Day for Higher Class Students

Here is a list of top 10 lines on World Sight Day for the students of classes 9th to 12th:

  • Annually, we celebrate World Sight Day on October’s second Thursday for becoming more determined and aware towards ensuring the right to sight for everyone.
  • This day also focuses on the government’s pledges and promises for increasing health service to prevent and treat Blindness.
  • The day aims at spreading awareness about the access to top eye care services and methods for preventing visual Impairment and blindness causes.
  • Apart from spreading awareness about the blindness issues, this day also aims to gather support from several people and organizations to ensure the right to sight for all.
  • VISION 2020, Right to Sight initiative started in association with IAPB and WHO for targeting five significant causes of Blindness and raise public awareness on the issue.
  • VISION 2020 makes the best use of the day to influence several governmental bodies and ministries to participate in national blindness prevention plans.
  • Several people also celebrate the day by raising funds for the people who have Blindness and visual impairment problems and not getting proper assistance and healthcare facilities.
  • Inability to properly can adversely affect people’s lives, their relationships, and their career, and thus this day spreads awareness about all the preventable scenarios of loss of vision.
  • With World Sight Day, each of us must take a pledge to help at least one person suffering from any eyesight related issue and help them have better eyesight, thus a better lifestyle.
  • One must successfully implement VISION 2020 on World Sight Day’s special occasion with good collaboration and commitment to ensure sustainable eye care and rehabilitation systems globally.

FAQ’s on World Sight Day

Question 1. What is the blind day?

Answer: Blind Day is the other name for World Sight Day. It is celebrated on second Thursday of October annually by the global folks. The day focuses mainly on visual impairment and blindness issues, their causes, prevention, and treatment to ensure sight for all.

Question 2. Are Blindness and visual Impairment same or two different aspects?

Answer: Visual Impairment and Blindness are two different scenarios. Visual Impairment is the decrease in the capability to see up to a certain degree, causing problems. This is fixable temporarily using the glasses. On the other hand, Blindness is the state of complete loss of vision due to any disease, injury, or genetic problem.

Question 3. What is World Sight Day 2020’s theme?

Answer: This year, World Sight Day took place on 8th October 2020. The theme for this year’s celebrations was ‘Hope in Sight.’ As unveiled by the latest surveys, around 1 billion global people have some preventable visual impairment or any other eyesight related issue that is yet not addressed.

Question 4.  How can we celebrate World Sight Day?

Answer: The best ways to celebrate World Post Day are:

  • Spreading awareness via social media. You can use several social media handles and platforms to spread awareness about the importance of eyesight and eye care services.
  • Holding a donation. This is another fantastic way of celebrating World Sight Day. We can hold some donation events to donate the essential items for the needy people.
  • Join the World Sight Day Challenge. You can join Optometry Giving Sight, a universal non-profit event for funding the vision care projects.
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Happy World Sight Day

On the second Thursday of October, people all around the world celebrate World Sight Day . This global event draws attention to blindness, visual impairments, and the prevention methods of both. It’s praised as the “most important advocacy and communications event on the eye health calendar.”

2023 World Sight Day logo

World Sight Day was initially created in 2000 as part of the SightFirst Campaign launched by the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF). It was then incorporated into VISION 2020 , a global initiative, which has been expanded and “built upon by a series of additional plans.” The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the World Health Organization (WHO) organizes World Sight Day events every year. IAPB takes on the responsibility of deciding on each year’s theme and creating informational materials. From there, members and organizations plan their own events.

In 2020, there were 255 World Sight Day events throughout 47 countries. These events ranged from online-only events, including seminars and donation drives.

World Sight Day focuses on a few goals every year. Firstly, IAPB wants to raise public awareness. Educating the public about blindness and visual impairments as an international health issue is crucial to this cause. Secondly, they want governments around the world to implement blindness prevention programs through World Sight Day participation and allocated funds. Lastly, they want their target audience to learn about blindness prevention, spread the word about VISION 2020’s goal, and gather support for related activities.

All these efforts equate to meeting their goal of eliminating preventable blindness around the world.

A girl with a big smile and eyes closed hugging another girl, who's also smiling, from behind. There's a heart around their heads and the World Sight Day, Love Your Eyes, and IAPB logos.

Stats & Prevention

There are a few prevalent causes of preventable blindness. Some of these include:

  • Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and other uncorrected refractive errors
  • Unoperated cataracts
  • Untreated glaucoma
  • Diabetic retinopathy

Did you know that approximately…

  • 90% of people with visual impairments are in developing countries
  • 65% of people with visual impairments are over the age of 50
  • 19 million children have a significant visual impairment; many of which are preventable
  • 1.4 million children have lifelong vision loss

There are steps you can take to preserve your sight and avoid preventable blindness. Some of these steps include:

  • Regular eye exams – Early detection is a great way to prevent future vision loss
  • Learn about your family’s vision history – Some preventable vision issues are genetic
  • Quit smoking and drink less alcohol – These can lead to an increased chance of getting cataracts and other vision issues
  • Wear eye protection – Preventing eye injury is a sizable step in preventing vision loss

Love your eyes at work logo with the world site day and IAPB logos

This Year’s Theme

World Sight Day 2023 falls on October 12th. This year’s theme, “ Love Your Eyes at Work ,” expands on recent years’ theme.

Poor vision can lead to accidents and reduced productivity. Prioritizing eye health in the workplace helps employers combat these issues while giving their employees access to a crucial health screening they may not otherwise have.

Help raise awareness about the importance of eye health in the global workforce and use the hashtag #LoveYourEyes.

Looking for another way to participate? Take part in their global challenge for vision screenings in the workplace.

“Love Your Eyes at Work is about helping people understand the importance of protecting their vision in the workplace and calling on business leaders to prioritise the eye health of workers, everywhere.?”

Categorized in: Accessibility , Government , Informational , News and Events

This post was written by Jessica Sanders

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2024 World Sight Day

Children’s eye and vision health has been a critical part of the Prevent Blindness mission since our founding in 1908. That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to promote 2024 World Sight Day, 10 October 2024, which will highlight the importance of prioritizing children’s eye health.

Coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) under the Love Your Eyes campaign banner, World Sight Day 2024 is putting children at the center of the campaign. 

Save the Date!

Prevent Blindness is planning a number of programs and initiatives for 2024 World Sight Day on and around October 10, 2024. Check back to find out more about our World Sight Day plans.

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World Sight Day Information, History, Theme, Greetings & Banners

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World Sight Day is on Thursday , 12th October 2023 , and we are focusing the world’s attention on the importance of eye care in the workplace.

Together, we will encourage employers to make eye health initiatives standard practice and promote eye health habits that will benefit the well-being, safety and productivity of millions of employees.

The first step is prioritising your own eye health, and we invite you to pledge to #LoveYourEyes . The next step is motivating the world’s employers to provide quality eye care to their employees. From factory floors and office buildings to staff rooms and studios, let’s ensure that eye care is available, accessible and affordable to all.

World Sight Day is commemorated every year on the second Thursday of the October month. It was first initiated by the Lions Club International Foundation under the Sight First Campaign in the year 2000. This day is celebrated to create awareness about vision impairment, blindness and other sight related problems.

Approximately 90% of blind people are living in low-income countries; 39 million of the population is blind, around 65% of visually impaired people are more than 50 years of age. World Sight Day is an important communication and advocacy event on the eye health calendar. It focuses on bringing attention on the vision impairment and Blindness.

World Sight Day Date:

  • 2023 : October 12, Thursday
  • 2024: October 10, Thursday
  • 2025: October 09, Thursday

This day was marked by the World Health Organization in association with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness in the year 2000 by the Lions Club International Foundation. These are the disease which receive attention on World Sight Day i.e. Trachoma, Low vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, Refractive error and Diabetic Retinopathy.

The day was created to support people in understanding the significance of providing support to the people who cannot see properly. It concentrates particularly on what all can be done to assist people with such conditions.

International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)

International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is a non-profit global association which works towards the mobilization of resources for activities that prevent blindness. The organization is dedicated to the enhancement of people who are suffering from vision problems. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) was established by Sir John Wilson on 1st of January in the year 1975.

The major objective of IAPB is to link non-government organizations, interested individuals, professional bodies and educational institutes with the national level programs in order to prevent blindness. The foundation of the program for blindness prevention of the World Health Organization was the primary biggest achievement of IAPB, after which both of them entered in a certified relationship.

VISION 2020 the “right to sight”

VISION 2020 the” right to sight” is a global non-profit corporation which is dedicated towards improving the lives of people suffering from Vision impairment. It is the global action for the destruction of avoidable blindness. VISION 2020 was founded in the year 1999 by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Presently, Global Action Plan is the most recent action plan and it rephrases the same vision as of VISION 2020: “right to sight”.

The three main objectives of VISION 2020 are:

  • Identify and secure the crucial resources worldwide for providing an enhanced level of treatment and prevention programs.
  • Promote the development, implementation and planning of the strategies of Vision 2020 with the help of National Programs.
  • Enhance the profile of the causes and solutions of avoidable blindness among the people.

Why it is celebrated?

World Sight Day is yearly celebrated to emphasize on the problem of global blindness. It aspires to raise public alertness around the world about the prevention and treatment of loss of vision. It is celebrated to create an impact on the governments, preferably health ministers, and also to participate in and entitled funds for blindness prevention programs. It is also marked to raise public awareness of vision impairment and blindness as major international public health issues.

Main aim of the World Sight Day is to educate the target audiences about VISION 2020 and its activities, and to generate support for VISION 2020, and blindness prevention program activities.

World Sight Day Theme:

Annual celebration of World Sight Day has its own theme. Every year, the theme is different in the observance of the day. The themes center on such topics as the need for improving the children eye health, prevention of blindness, offering services for eye health, what can be done for the situations for low visions, etc.

The theme of World Sight Day on October 12, 2017, Thursday was kept “Make Vision Count”. The theme was kept to reveal the statistics on blindness and let people become aware of where they stand.

Now coming to the statistics – In the year 2010, only 28% of the population of the world was affected by short sightedness and the number is known to increase to 34% by the year 2020 and to 50% by the year 2050. In the year 2014, around 422 million people had diabetes in comparison to the 108 million people in the year 1980. And out of three people with diabetes, one person suffers from diabetic retinopathy. Above that, one out of 10 people might develop a threatening aspect of the disease.

Below is the year wise theme of World Sight Day:

  • 2023: Eye Care in the Workplace
  • 2022: No theme
  • 2021: Love Your Eyes
  • 2020: Hope In Sight
  • 2019: Vision First
  • 2018 : Universal Eye Health
  • 2017 : Make Vision Count
  • 2016 : Stronger Together
  • 2015 : Eye care for all
  • 2014 : No more Avoidable Blindness
  • 2013 : Universal Eye Health
  • 2012 and 2011 : No theme
  • 2010 : Countdown to 2020
  • 2009 : Gender and Eye Health
  • 2008 : Fighting Vision Impairment in Later Life
  • 2007 : Vision for Children
  • 2006 : Low Vision
  • 2005 : The Right to Sight
  • 2004 to 2000 : No theme

How World Sight Day Is Celebrated:

Since 2000, World Sight Day is celebrated across different countries to raise understanding and awareness of blindness and other linked vision as well as sight disorders. The day is celebrated by promoting various services for eye care support provided to people with vision problems. The day is particularly of high significance for the people who look forward to protect their eyes from harm. Various campaigns are also undertaken to support blind people on the day and making their lives easier.

Some of the examples of events held in recent years across the world are as follows:

World Sight Day offers an international moment to bring attention of the masses towards the various issues of blindness revolving around the country and make eye health a reality for all. The Christian Blind Mission, India marks the day in collaboration with various networks and institutions by organizing public events in major cities like Delhi, Karnataka and Bengaluru. The government of India, eye care experts and the common people make efforts to spread awareness on the eye conditions on the day. On the occasion of World Sight Day, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) also supports the following services free-of-charge to all the participants:

  • Eye care tips to deal with computer-stress and other common visual problems.
  • Prescription of medication and lens power, if required.
  • Inclusive eye screening exam, which will check the visual status of the eye and also screen for diseases such as glaucoma, cataract etc.
  • Medical appointment on any other eye-related problems.
  • Instant blood sugar test to check for diabetes and possibility of diabetic retinopathy.

World Sight Day in Canada is promoted by the Canadian association of optometrists. Every year more than 50,000 Canadians lose their sight. The Optometrists organization in Canada urges people to participate in the World Sight Day challenge. The challenge is an international level and yearly fund raising campaign that helps people with the condition of blindness. People can easily participate in the campaigns by giving annual or monthly donations or even before the prescribed World Sight Day of the year. The day provides a great way to the people of the country to make contributions and help people with vision and eye issues.

Eye camps are also organized in several parts of Canada to mark the day.

Every year, World Sight Day is observed in Italy with much enthusiasm. Around 100 cities of the country take part in numerous free initiatives in which gadgets and leaflets are distributed among the individuals. Free eye checks are also performed in many cities of Italy on the day. The events organized on the day are promoted by the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, Italy along with the regional support from the Blind Union of Italy. Events like press conference, live programs and ophthalmic prevention programs are also conducted on this day.

World Sight Day is also celebrated in Australia to spread awareness about blindness and visual impairment. More than 400,000 people of Australia are blind or have low vision. Thus, Australia acknowledges the day with greater zeal. VISION 2020 Australia joins the community for blindness and visual impairment to mark the day.

As majority of the conditions relating to the eyes have no pain or symptoms in the initial periods, the government of Australia feels that proper examinations of the eyes are very important to make sure about the treatment and early detection of the eye conditions in order to prevent vision loss and blindness. Thus, the Australian Government organizes various free camps that check the eye health of every citizen in the country on this day.

In Europe, the European Coalition for Vision (ECV) along with the other champions of equality and eye health worldwide, organize events to promote the World Sight Day. The works of the associations that contribute towards the blindness are applauded on this day. Special efforts are undertaken to publish useful materials for people who are visually impaired or blind or are not able to read the printed works. Campaigns are also undertaken to generate funds towards maintaining the eye health of the country.

Some More Suggestions For Celebrating World Sight Day:

India is a vast country with a very large population. It also has the largest blind population in the world i.e. 15 million. One out of three blind people in the world are from India. Out of these 15 million blind people, corneal blindness reported cases around 3.5 million, which is amongst the most popular reasons of blindness with around 30,000 cases added every year.

World Sight Day must be celebrated in India at huge levels to make its citizens aware of the consequences which come with vision impairment. Here are some suggestions to celebrate the day in India:

  • Make World Sight Day a donation day. Organize donation camps which will ultimately help people suffering from visual impairment conditions. If you are working in any organization, encourage the whole staff to make donations towards the issue.
  • Classes can be offered to children to help them learn on how to protect their sight.
  • A global fest must be held on the day to spread awareness at a gigantic level.
  • Vitamin A should be distributed to children in the various states of the country.
  • Eye screening centers should be set in the major cities of every state and encourage people to get their eyes tested for free for the World Sight Day.
  • Host an exciting contest on social media. Ask the patients to upload pictures of their preferable sights like family portrait or a beach holiday and tag it along using #WorldSightDay . You can pick three winners and reward them with a $20 gift card to a movie theater or a local café.

Some tips for your healthy eyes:

  • Always wear sunglasses while going out to protect your eyes from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
  • Eat properly and try to include more and more green vegetables in your diet.
  • While performing any hazardous work, wear protective glares or safety glasses.
  • Smoking is very harmful for the eyes. It includes risk of diseases like optic nerve damage, cataract and macular degeneration. So, do not smoke.
  • While working on the computer, give rest to your eyes after every 20 minutes. Try to look away for around 20 seconds from the computer screen.
  • Go for routine check- up of your eyes.
  • Maintain adequate hygiene and do not touch your eyes or rub them before properly washing your hands.
  • Exercise on a regular basis as physical activity makes your body as well as the eyes healthy.
  • For any kind of eye infections, avoid use of the over-the-counter medications.

You can share these tips also with your friends, family, colleagues etc. on World Sight Day to benefit other individuals.

Conclusion:

World Sight Day is an important event that focuses on what can be done to help visually impaired people. Not even minor eye problems should be taken for granted, as you never know how that little eye problem might end up becoming a huge problem in the end. It might get really critical for the ones suffering from the diseases of the eye as eye is also an important sense organ of the human body. Awareness about visual impairment is must as four out of five people suffer from visual impairment and blindness.

Celebration of the day is very important as blindness is a very critical issue that has affected the lives of people worldwide. It is very significant to support blind people making it easier for the society to operate. The day also serves on what can be done to avoid blindness. World Sight Day is the best platform to raise awareness for the issue and generate funds for the betterment of the visually impaired people and support their lives in a better manner.

World Sight Day Greeting Cards:

World Sight Day Digital Greeting Card With Message 'Eye Care in the Workplace'

Facebook Covers, Banners & Posters:

World Sight Day Facebook Banner With Message Love Your Eyes

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Speech on the occasion of the Commemoration of World Sight Day and Eye Care Awareness Month

Speech by the Honourable MEC for Health, Mr Mxolisi Sokatsha, on the occasion of the Commemoration of World Sight Day and Eye Care Awareness Month. Barkley-West, Frances Baard District – Northern Cape, 12 October 2011: 14H00 It is indeed a honour and privilege for me to be part of this auspicious occasion. Today we are commemorating World Sight Day aimed annually to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. World Sight Day is commemorated in 2011 under the theme: “Delivering eye care to the communities”.

As the ANC led government, in our efforts to provide and improve service delivery to our citizens, we are guided by principles of “Batho Pele- People first”. Today, our people are experiencing Batho Pele live- receiving and accessing essential government information and services, specifically focusing on eye care. In addition, the issues raised by communities in the build-up to the April 2009 national elections provided the basis for Health being prioritized as part of the five priority areas to which the ANC led government has committed to deliver on in the next five years. Based on this, the delivering of essential health services and information today is a direct response to the call of the people. In addition, government developed a Ten Point Plan to address the service delivery challenges faced by the health sector. The commemoration of World Sight Day and accompanying dissemination of information and delivery of services related to eye care is a direct response to Point 3 –Improving the quality of health services and Point 8 – Mass mobilization for better health for the population. Ladies and gentlemen, approximately 39 million people worldwide live with blindness and 245 million with low vision. To add salt to the wounds, 90% of the blind live in low income countries. Ironically, 80% of blindness is preventable and treated. The Northern Cape Department of Health in collaboration with the South-African National Council for the Blind, through it’s division-the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness and VODACOM have taken hands during Eye Care Awareness Month in October to bring much needed information and services relating to eye care to our destitute and most vulnerable people in the Frances Baard District of our province. During the programme of October, a great number of people in Ritchie, Platfontein, Barkley-West have received much needed spectacles as well as screening, treatment and operations for eye problems. We also held a referral clinic at Prof ZK Matthews Hospital in Barkley-West as well as a Cataract blitz eye operations in the area. Within the next three months similar eyecare programmes and tours will be conducted in the Pixley-Ka Seme, Siyanda and Namaqua districts. Furthermore, today and into the future, health workers are charged with the responsibility to raise awareness on sight issues and motivate our communities and leader to participate and develop programmes relating to eye care. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about the following. Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are assuming alarming proportion in South Africa. These are your diseases like high blood pressure, hypertension, cholesterol, high sugar levels ect. They account for a larger number of deaths and therefore increase the diseases burden in the country. Currently South Africa is rated three times higher than developed countries according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on the burden of NCDs. This is putting burden on the health system of the country. The promotion of healthy lifestyles has been prioritized as one the critical programmes that needed to be advocated robustly throughout the country among members of the community. Exercise, healthy eating, reducing alcohol intake and smoking will contribute to a more healthy lifestyle. Breastfeeding is in the process of repositioning and promoted as a key child survival strategy in South Africa. The benefits of breastfeeding are well recognised for both infant and mother. Breastfeeding has profound impact on child’s survival, health, nutrition and development – and we have known this for decades. These benefits will obviously be lost when formula feeding is given. We must all partner to scale up promotion, support and protection of breastfeeding to improve child survival. Encouraging breastfeeding, providing accurate information about the benefits of breastfeeding and support will increase awareness, acceptance, and will encourage more women to do what is best for their babies - and that is to breastfeed. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to request all to continue with the HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign and get yourself and your partner tested for HIV. If you get tested, you will know your status and adapt your lifestyle accordingly. Eating more healthy foods and exercising regularly. Programme director, I would like to conclude by reiterating the importance of community involvement and participation as well as the process of consultation. Government alone cannot do anything on their own. With your help and inputs, can the planning and the management of health services in your community be successful. We must get involve in local structures like clinic committees regarding health services and programmes and through this you can assist in the monitoring of the Batho pele principles and the Patients Charter Rights. Working together, we can do more! I thank you.

Office of the Premier  Private Bag X5016  Kimberley  8301

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Independence Day 2024: 20 iconic slogans and inspiring quotes by freedom fighters that will ignite your patriotic spirit

Independence day 2024: on august 15, check out these iconic slogans and inspiring quotes by freedom fighters that will ignite your patriotism..

Independence Day 2024: India celebrates its 78th Independence Day on Thursday, August 15. India gained its freedom from the British colonial rule on August 15, 1947. The day honours the freedom fighters who laid their lives for the country and made countless sacrifices. During the freedom struggle, these freedom fighters gave many slogans to motivate people and instil patriotism in them. These slogans and quotes made a profound impact on the psyche of Indian citizens. So, to pump up the patriotic spirits on August 15 , here are some iconic slogans and inspiring quotes by freedom fighters.

Independence Day 2024: Fire up your patriotic spirits on August 15 with these iconic slogans and inspiring quotes by freedom fighters. (Freepik)

(Also Read | Happy Independence Day 2024: Top 30+ wishes, images, quotes, SMS, Facebook and WhatsApp status to share on August 15 )

Independence day 2024: iconic slogans and inspiring quotes by freedom fighters.

"The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India." - Lala Lajpat Rai

"Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?" - Mahatma Gandhi.

Independence Day 2024: India celebrates Independence Day on August 15. (HT Photo)

"Satyamev Jayate." - Madan Mohan Malviya.

"Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azaadi doonga." - Subhash Chandra Bose.

Independence Day 2024: This year, the nation will mark its 78th Independence Day, (HT Photo)

"Better remain silent, better not even think, if you are not prepared to act." -Annie Besant.

"Who lives if India dies?" - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Independence Day 2024: The theme for this year is Viksit Bharat or Developed India. (HT Photo)

"Do or die." - Mahatma Gandhi.

"Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai, dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai." – Ramprasad Bismil.

(Also Read | Independence Day 2024: India celebrates its 78th I-Day this year; know theme, history, significance, celebrations )

Independence Day 2024: On July 4, 1947, the British House of Commons introduced the Indian Independence Bill. (HT Photo)

"Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom." - Jawaharlal Nehru.

"Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it" - Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Independence Day 2024: On August 15, 1947, India became an independent nation.(HT Photo)

"Constitution is not a mere lawyer's document; it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age." - BR Ambedkar.

"You can chain me, you can destroy me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind." - Mahatma Gandhi.

Independence Day 2024: On Independence Day, the prime minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort. (HT Photo)

"Every citizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in this country but with certain duties." - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

(Also Read | Independence Day 2024: Know all about Indian National Flag's history and the man behind it )

"So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you." - BR Ambedkar.

Independence Day 2024: This year's speech will mark the 11th consecutive Independence Day speech by PM Modi and the first during his third term.(HT Photo)

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." - Jawaharlal Nehru.

"Bombs and pistols do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution sharpened on the whetting stones of ideas." - Bhagat Singh.

Independence Day 2024: Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, and Chandra Shekhar Azad were part of the freedom struggle. (HT Photo)

"I want all people to be Indians first, Indians last and nothing else but Indians." - BR Ambedkar.

"Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hee rahein hain, Azad hee rahenge" - Chandra Shekhar Azad.

Independence Day 2024: Celebrate Independence Day by sending these slogans to your friends and family. (HT Photo)

"Let new India arise out of peasants’ cottage, grasping the plough, out of huts, cobbler and sweeper." - Swami Vivekananda.

(Also Read | Independence Day 2024: Pre-Independence eateries that are still open and loved )

"One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives." - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Independence Day 2024: Happy 78th Independence Day. (HT Photo)

"A country's greatness lies in its undying ideal of love and sacrifice that inspire the mothers of the race." - Sarojini Naidu.

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Posted by Villa Eyewear on Sep 23rd 2022

Celebrate World Sight Day: 4 Ways Your Practice Can Make a Difference in Your Community

Each year the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) holds an international day of action called World Sight Day. The IAPB facilitates a new awareness campaign each year to improve vision, health and education around the world. This year World Sight Day will be on October 13, 2022, and the theme of the campaign is #LoveYourEyes. Directly from the World Sight Day page, the IAPB says:

“We are focusing the world’s attention on the importance of eye care. We invite you to join us by prioritizing your eye health and considering how eye care and rehabilitations services should be accessible, inclusive, and affordable to everyone, everywhere.”

speech on world sight day

Photo from IAPB World Sight Day Photo Competition 2021

The agency’s mission is to work towards universal access to quality eye care in order to correct preventable sight loss for every community. They offer an optimistic point of view by explaining that the vision problems across the globe are ones within the industry’s grasp of solving. One of the key components of the World Sight Day campaign is the eye test pledge. In 2021, over 3.5 million people pledged to get their eyes tested. In 2022, the IAPB is upping their target to 5 million pledges. You can pledge here.

As an eye care provider, you understand the importance of vision health. Furthermore, as an independent business, you have the ability to make major positive impacts in your community.  Villa Eyewear is powered by independent eyewear brands for independent eye care practices. We believe independent business in the vision industry is the future, and has tremendous capabilities in making real progress in our communities. That is why we are sharing 4 ways for your practice to celebrate World Sight Day.

1. Empower People in Your Community

The IAPB has resources available to the public that can help you engage with people in your community. World Sight Day starts in your practice’s very own neighborhood. It is a great day to consider your approach to equity and underserved communities. Some strategies to consider when restructuring your approach to outreach include:

  • Integrate eye care into community health - As a business owner, you hold weight in your community. If you do not already have a relationship with your local community leaders, consider reaching out to them to speak about vision health in your area. You will have valuable expertise in an unfamiliar topic to them, and it will be appreciated.
  • Develop eye care education programmes - As an ECP, you are an expert on the importance of vision health. Explore ways to share that knowledge with your community. You can try attending community events to give free speeches or presentations or even put together reading material to hand out in your office.

Outreach is an excellent way for your practice to become a prominent figure in your community. It’s a great opportunity for you to bring in business, educate underserved communities, and celebrate World Sight Day.

2. Learn About Global Eyecare

Another way your practice can celebrate World Sight Day is by taking some time to learn more about the state of vision care in different parts of the world. The IAPB has educational resources including a World Report on Vision Care available for you to download. In the report you can learn about:

speech on world sight day

Graphic from IAPB World Report on Vision 2021

  • Statistics about global vision health - Including that 2.2 billion people across the world have a vision impairment, but nearly 1 billion people do not have access to the vision care they need.
  • Insight into who is most vulnerable - Learn, in depth, about how and why women, the elderly, Indigenous, and other groups of people are more susceptible to improper care.
  • Deeper understanding of the need - Gain knowledge on what tactics domestically and abroad could help solve the problem for people in need.

Furthering your understanding of vision access across the globe will make you a more well-rounded practitioner and even better prepare you for any outreach you may be planning.

3. Participate in the #LoveYourEyes campaign

A massive component to World Sight Day is bringing visibility to eye health issues across the world. That is why the IAPB is using the hashtag, #LoveYourEyes, to raise as much awareness as possible to the issue. Villa Eyewear will also be participating in the campaign on World Sight Day. Independent brands can make a big influence in their communities to engage with the campaign as well. The goal of the campaign is to generate enough buzz to influence local and global decision makers to enact the changes necessary to treat preventable blindness. So use the hashtag on October 13th! Take it a step further with a corresponding visual, because the IAPB even allows you to create a free campaign poster .

speech on world sight day

Poster from IAPB World Sight Day Poster Creation Tool 2022

4. Sign the World Sight Day Pledge

speech on world sight day

Last, but not least, one of the best ways to participate in World Sight Day is by signing the pledge to Love Your Eyes. The IAPB is aiming to garner 5 million pledges, and every name counts! Independent eye care businesses are in a unique position to be able to influence our communities to enact positive change. We aren’t tied to a distant chain of command and can freely use our platforms to spread awareness for meaningful causes. Villa Eyewear stands with the IAPB’s mission to create a world with universal access to eye care.

If you are looking to partner with a brand that prioritizes independents and doing good in the world,  contact Villa Eyewear today .

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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Speaks Out on World Sight Day: 'We're Creeping Closer to Our Goal'

The Duchess of Edinburgh is in Ethiopia to support efforts being made to tackle eye disease

speech on world sight day

Adam Mengistu/Orbis

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh is continuing her visit to Ethiopia on behalf of a favorite cause.

The royal spent a couple of days earlier this week supporting efforts to combat deficiencies in eyesight health, and she said the "incredible goal" of beating the eye disease trachoma by 2030 was very possible thanks to efforts being made in the African country and beyond.

"So much has been achieved both here in Ethiopia and around the world. But now is the time that we must all redouble our efforts if we are to achieve our aim of eliminating trachoma by the year 2030, which is a mere six years away,” Sophie said on Wednesday.

“We must not let ourselves become defocused or complacent," she continued. "We are on the cusp of achieving something almost unimaginable in previous years. Every person involved in this vital work has reason to be so very proud of each and every accomplishment. We are creeping closer to our incredible goal, and I urge you all to keep your eyes on the prize and to make this disease so awful that it is worthy of mention in the Bible a thing of the past and give our communities the gift of sight.”

Sophie was speaking before World Sight Day on Oct. 12, when she took part in celebrations in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

Earlier in the week, she met workers who are carrying vital services helping to protect the vision of children and adults in Hawassa, Ethiopia, with international eye care charity  Orbis . There, she was told about how limited access to clean water and sanitation can lead to trachoma, and some of the work being undertaken to screen and treat those with the condition at a primary eye care clinic.

If a patient suffers repeated infections, the condition will cause a person’s eyelids to turn inwards, scraping and damaging the surface with every painful blink. It is particularly prevalent among women, with 70% of cases in Ethiopia impacting women.

Sophie, 58, then headed to a local school, to see how children are screened by teachers for many eye conditions, and where they learn about how to protect themselves from trachoma, through school eye care clubs sharing the information through plays and songs.

At Hawassa Tertiary Eye Care unit, Sophie was taken through the simulation training opportunities – before trying her hand at a mock operation. Eye care teams use virtual reality and cutting-edge prosthetics to develop their skills and confidence safely before taking on real-life surgeries. Guided by the center’s doctors, Sophie got to test her skills in cataract surgery.

On Wednesday, she took part in a trachoma elimination conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought together over 40 organizations and more than 100 participants who discussed obstacles, successes and future plans, delivering the keynote speech, highlighting the impact of trachoma on women, children, livelihoods and education and the work that has gone the bid to eliminate trachoma by the World Health Organization target of 2030.

Earlier in her visit to Ethiopia, it was another cause that dominated her activities: combating gender-based violence against women in conflict. She visited Sabacare IDP Camp in northern Ethiopia, which cares for more than 16,000 Internally Displaced Persons — many of them women and girls. At Ayder Hospital’s One Stop Centre (OSC) for survivors of gender-based violence, the Duchess was shown the range of medical and counseling treatments that have aided hundreds of women amid the country's humanitarian crisis.

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Sophie, who shares daughter  Lady Louise Windsor , 18, and son  James, Viscount Severn , 14, with her husband  Prince Edward , 59,  also visited the Women’s Development Centre, a charity that equips vulnerable women, many of them survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, with skills to lead an independent life with secure employment, the palace said in a press release.

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WorldSightDay2023

speech on world sight day

World Sight Day (WSD) is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.

According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB):

  • Approximately 285 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness.
  • Of these, 39 million people are blind and 246 million have moderate or severe visual impairment.
  • 90% of blind people live in low-income countries.
  • 80% of visual impairment is avoidable, being readily treatable and/or preventable.
  • Restorations of sight, and blindness prevention strategies are among the most cost-effective interventions in healthcare.
  • The number of people blind from infectious causes has greatly decreased in the past 20 years.
  • An estimated 19 million children are visually impaired.
  • About 65 % of all people who are visually impaired are aged 50 and older, while this age group comprises only 20% of the world's population.
  • Increasing elderly populations in many countries mean that more people will be at risk of age-related visual impairment.

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speech on world sight day

World Sight Day 2024

World Sight Day is a global event that focuses on bringing attention on blindness and vision impairment. It is observed on the second Thursday of October each year.

speech on world sight day

World Sight Day raises awareness about blindness and vision impairment, as well as the provision of eye health care .

©iStockphoto.com/Gene Chutka

What Do People Do?

The World Health Organization (WHO), which is the UN’s directing and coordinating authority for health, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) are actively involved in coordinating events and activities for World Sight Day. Associations such as Lions Clubs International have also been actively involved in promoting the day on an annual basis for many years. Many communities, associations, and non-government organizations work together with WHO and IAPB to promote the day for the following purposes:

  • To raise public awareness of blindness and vision impairment as major international public health issues.
  • To influence governments, particularly health ministers, to participate in and designate funds for national blindness prevention programs.
  • To educate target audiences about blindness prevention, about VISION 2020 and its activities, and to generate support for VISION 2020 program activities.

Some people plant trees to commemorate World Sight Day and while others submit a photo for an international photo montage that focuses on the theme of blindness. Other activities include taking part in awareness-raising walks or distributing and displaying posters, bookmarks, booklets and other forms of information the raise awareness about preventable blindness.

Public Life

World Sight Day is a global observance but it is not a nationwide public holiday.

The world's population is ageing and people are living longer but blindness from chronic conditions is also rising, according to WHO. About 80 percent of the world's 45 million blind people are aged over 50 years. About 90 percent of blind people live in low-income countries, where older people, especially older women, face barriers to getting the necessary eye health care. Yet, many age-related conditions leading to blindness – such as cataract, refractive error and glaucoma – can be easily and cheaply treated or cured. Timely intervention can often delay or reduce their effects on vision.

Lions Clubs International partnered with blindness prevention organizations worldwide to commemorate the first World Sight Day on October 8, 1998. This event was later integrated into VISION 2020, a global initiative that the IAPB coordinates. This initiative is a joint program between WHO and the IAPB. It involves non-government organizations, and professional associations, as well as eye care institutions and corporations.

World Sight Day Observances

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday Type
2019Thu10 OctWorld Sight Day
2020Thu8 OctWorld Sight Day
2021Thu14 OctWorld Sight Day
2022Thu13 OctWorld Sight Day
2023Thu12 OctWorld Sight Day
2024Thu10 OctWorld Sight Day
2025Thu9 OctWorld Sight Day
2026Thu8 OctWorld Sight Day
2027Thu14 OctWorld Sight Day
2028Thu12 OctWorld Sight Day
2029Thu11 OctWorld Sight Day

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know .

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Independence Day: 'India is among fastest-growing economies, poverty has declined,' says President Murmu

In her address, the president touched upon a host of initiatives launched by the central government to help the marginalised section..

Business Today Desk

  • Updated Aug 14, 2024, 8:37 PM IST

President Droupadi Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that India is among the fastest-growing economies in the world with an average annual growth of 8% between 2021 and 2024. "This has not only given more money in the hands of people but there has been a huge decline in the number of people living below the poverty line as well," the President said in her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day.

In her address, the President touched upon a host of initiatives launched by the central government to help the marginalised section. She said as for those who continue to suffer from poverty, all efforts are being made not only to provide a helping hand to them, but also to bring them out of it. For example, she added, the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, launched in the initial phase of Covid-19, continues to provide free ration to about 80 crore people, which also ensures that those who have recently come out of poverty are not forced back into it.

"It is a matter of pride for all that India has become the fifth largest economy in the world, and we are also poised to become one of the top three economies soon," the President said, adding that this has been made possible only by hard work of farmers and workers, by the farsightedness of planners and wealth-creators, and by the visionary leadership.

President Murmu also spoke on farmers, who she said have ensured that agricultural production continues to beat expectations. They have contributed immensely to making India self-reliant in agriculture and feed our people, she added. 

"Infrastructure has received a boost in recent years. Strategic planning and effective institutions have helped expand the network of roads and highways, railways as well as ports. Considering the great potential of futuristic technology, the Government has vigorously promoted a range of sectors, such as semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence, while also creating an ideal ecosystem for startups which will propel their growth." 

"It has made India an even more attractive investment destination. With greater transparency, the banking and financial sector has become much more efficient. All of these factors have set the stage for the next generation of economic reforms and economic growth that will catapult India among the developed nations," the President said. 

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World Sight Day 2020

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. This year, World Sight Day will take place on 8 October 2020 with the theme: Hope In Sight .

1 billion people around the world have a preventable vision impairment or one that has yet to be addressed.  Reduced or absent eyesight can have major and long-lasting effects on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, interacting with the community, school and work opportunities and the ability to access public services.

Reduced eyesight can be caused by several factors, including diseases like diabetes and trachoma, trauma to the eyes, or conditions such as refractive error, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma. 

The majority of people with vision impairment are over the age of 50 years; however, vision loss can affect people of all ages.

International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness – World Sight Day

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International White Cane Day & World Sight Day

Speech of the UN Resident Coordinator at the International White Day & World Sight Day event held in Maseru.

Bo Mme le Bo Ntate, Khotsong.  Please allow me to pay my respects to:

HIS MAJESTY KING LETSIE III,

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER,

HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,

HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY,

HER LADYSHIP THE CHIEF JUSTICE,

HIS LORDSHIP PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL;

HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER;

HONOURABLE MINISTERS AND DEPUTY MINISTERS OF HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT, IN PARTICULAR THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, HON. NKAKU KABI; AND DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS HON. MOFOMOBE, WHO ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY;

MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS;

DEAR COLLEAGUES FROM UN LESOTHO;

THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY IN THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER;

SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS;

REPRESENTATIVES OF CSOs; ACADEMIA AND MEDIA HOUSES;

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, BO MME LE BO NTATE

ALL PROTOCOL OBSERVED,

On behalf of the United Nations in Lesotho, I am very pleased to celebrate World sight and white cane day with you today.  These days are celebrated today in Lesotho and across the globe to create public awareness on blindness and vision impairment. These days also aim to garner support and commitment in ensuring the right to sight for all people, and the rights of the visually impaired.

The World Vision Report , which was published by the World Health Organization earlier this month, reveals that at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment, even more worrisome is that at least 1 billion of these people have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or repaired. These figures are rising daily, and they clearly tell us that there are considerable challenges in terms of eye care.

Therefore, we need to be thankful for organizations such as Lesotho National League of the Visually Impaired Persons (LNLVIP), which, for over two decades, has been promoting and advocating equitable access to public services for persons with visual impairment, as well as capacity building in communities on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The Government of Lesotho acceded to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities in 2008 and by so doing it committed to adopting policies and implementing programmes geared towards protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities including those with visual impairments. In 2018, the United Nations issued a report titled: Development and Disability: Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals by, for and with persons with disabilities. The report shows that despite the progress made in recent years, persons with disabilities continue to face numerous barriers to their full inclusion and participation in the life of their communities. It sheds light on their disproportionate levels of poverty; their lack of access to education, health services and employment; and their underrepresentation in decision-making and political participation.

To contribute to improving the living conditions of the persons with visual impairment, the UN system is proud to offer 50 white canes to LNLVIP.  As you know, the white cane is a vital tool which assists the visually-impaired persons to move freely and safely. It is a symbol of independence.  This is because we understand that vision impairment affects every area of a persons’ life and that this challenge is often not borne equally.

The burden tends to be greater amongst people in rural communities as well as the disabled. And it is our hope that this small contribution will make a positive difference in someone’s daily life.  As you know, one of the key principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to leave no one behind .  This little donation is an expression of solidarity with the visually impaired persons of Lesotho.  It is also an acknowledgement that VIPs have a contribution to make towards the development of the country.  We therefore do not want to leave them behind.

The UN will continue strengthening partnerships with the Government of Lesotho and organizations of persons with disabilities to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as ensuring disability is mainstreamed in SDGs implementation and by so doing, leaving no one behind .

I therefore urge all stakeholders those who are present and those who are not, to work together in making eye care an integral part of our health coverage in Lesotho, as well as continuing in engaging and empowering people and communities about eye care needs. It is also important to create a conducive environment for persons with visual impairment to have access and enjoy social, economic and political benefits that accrue from the development processes on an equal basis with their non-disabled counterparts.

With these few words, and from all of us at the UN Lesotho, I wish you all happy, healthy and safe Sight and White cane days. 

Khotso      Pula           Nala

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Independence Day 2024: Uplifting quotes, wishes, and messages to share

Ayush mehrotra   .

Independence Day 2024: Uplifting quotes, wishes, and messages to share

30 Heartfelt Independence Day 2024 wishes and messages

  • Happy 78th Independence Day! Let's honour the bravery and sacrifices of our freedom fighters by working towards a better and brighter India.
  • May the spirit of freedom fill your heart with pride and joy. Happy Independence Day!
  • On this special day, let's salute the heroes who fought for our freedom. Happy Independence Day!
  • Jai Hind! May our tricolour always fly high as a symbol of peace, prosperity, and pride.
  • Wishing you a day filled with pride, joy, and gratitude for the freedom we enjoy. Happy Independence Day!
  • Let's celebrate the unity in diversity that makes our nation so unique. Happy Independence Day!
  • May we always stand strong as a nation and work together for a prosperous future. Happy 78th Independence Day!
  • As we celebrate our freedom, let's pledge to protect and cherish it forever. Happy Independence Day!
  • Let us remember the golden heritage of our country and feel proud to be a part of India. Happy Independence Day!
  • On this Independence Day, let's commit to building a nation that our future generations will be proud of.
  • Happy Independence Day! May our country continue to flourish and prosper in peace and harmony.
  • Freedom is the most precious gift. Let's cherish and celebrate it every day. Happy Independence Day!
  • Wishing you a day filled with patriotic spirit and love for our nation. Happy Independence Day!
  • Happy Independence Day! Let's honour the sacrifices of those who gave us the gift of freedom.
  • May our flag always fly high as a symbol of our unity and strength. Happy Independence Day!
  • Let's pledge to work together for a peaceful and prosperous India. Happy Independence Day!
  • Jai Hind! May the pride of being an Indian remain in our hearts forever.
  • Wishing you a day of pride, joy, and unity as we celebrate our freedom. Happy Independence Day!
  • Let's cherish the freedom we have and strive to make India the best it can be. Happy Independence Day!
  • May the colours of our flag always remind us of the sacrifices made for our freedom. Happy Independence Day!
  • Happy Independence Day! Let's celebrate the spirit of freedom and the strength of our nation.
  • Let's honour the courage and dedication of those who fought for our freedom. Happy Independence Day!
  • May we continue to uphold the values of justice, equality, and liberty. Happy Independence Day!
  • Happy 78th Independence Day! Let's work together to build a brighter future for our country.
  • Wishing you a day filled with pride and love for our nation. Happy Independence Day!
  • Let's celebrate the freedom we enjoy and strive to protect it every day. Happy Independence Day!
  • Happy Independence Day! May the spirit of patriotism always inspire us to work for a better India.
  • Let's honour the legacy of our freedom fighters by upholding the values of our nation. Happy Independence Day!
  • May our country continue to progress and prosper in unity and peace. Happy Independence Day!
  • Jai Hind! Let's celebrate the spirit of independence and the pride of being an Indian.

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World sight day 2022 to take sight screenings to national parliaments.

Global Partners announced as more details for World Sight Day 2022 become available

IAPB World Sight Day 2022 Global Partners

  • Global Partners for World Sight Day 2022 have been announced as AbbVie, Bayer, CBM, Novartis, Horizon Therapeutics, National Vision, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Seva Foundation and Sightsavers.
  • The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) confirmed earlier in the year that it will continue the theme of #LoveYourEyes for World Sight Day 2022 to build on the success of last year’s campaign, which saw over 3.5 million pledges to prioritise eye health.
  • The Love Your Eyes campaign encourages individuals to take care of their own eye health and draws attention to over a billion people worldwide who have vision loss and do not have access to eye care services.
  • This year IAPB is asking members and people across the sector to carry out sight screenings in national parliaments, assemblies, presidential and royal palaces to highlight the importance of eye health with politicians and decision makers.

Last week IAPB announced further details about this year’s World Sight Day being held on 13 th October. A focus of this year’s #LoveYourEyes campaign will be to have sight screenings in parliaments and homes of other decision-making bodies around the world. Screenings are already being planned around the world including at the United Nations in New York, the UK Parliament in London, the Nepal parliament in Kathmandu, and the Australian Parliament in Canberra.

Joining this year’s campaign as Global Partners are a number of corporate and charity partners including AbbVie, Bayer, CBM, Novartis, Horizon Therapeutics, National Vision, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Seva Foundation, and Sightsavers. These Global Partners will be supporting activations around the world as well as their own activities on World Sight Day.

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), the overarching alliance for the eye care sector that leads activities around World Sight Day has launched several tools for those wanting to get involved in this year’s campaign and is also asking individuals, eye care professionals, hospitals, NGOs and businesses around the world to help reach 5million sight tests pledges for World Sight Day 2022.

Commenting on the announcement, Peter Holland, CEO of IAPB said  “ We are proud to be partnering with such world leading eye health organisations and charities for this year’s World Sight Day. We’re excited to see so many people around the world getting involved in this year’s Love Your Eyes campaign and help us bring the issue of eye care to a global stage. It’s so important that people around the world understand the importance of eye health. Everyone can get involved – just head to IAPB.org/WSD2022 to find out more.”

  • Global Partners for World Sight Day 2022,
  • IAPB World Sight Day,
  • LoveYourEyes,
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Independence Day of India, 15 August 2024: History, Significance, Facts and all you need to know

Independence Day of India, 15 August 2024: History, Significance, Facts and all you need to know

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Mexican prosecutors said on Wednesday they were investigating the disappearance of two bodyguards the same day as last month's dramatic U.S. arrest of one of the founders of the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, alongside the son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

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Trump Said Shoplifters Should Be Shot, Part of a String of Violent Remarks

Recent incendiary statements by the former president come at a time when his supporters are already angry over his indictments.

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Supporters of Donald Trump near Trump Tower, waving a flag with his face on it and the words “America 2024.”

By Maggie Haberman Nicholas Nehamas and Alyce McFadden

Former President Donald J. Trump had a lot to say on the first day of the fraud trial against him and his company. Speaking to reporters at a Manhattan courthouse on Monday, he dismissed the judge as a “rogue” justice and said he did not “think the people of this country are going to stand for it.” And he focused on the official who filed the lawsuit against him, New York’s attorney general, Letitia James.

“This is a disgrace,” he said, “and you ought to go after this attorney general.”

The remark urging people to “go after” a top elected official in New York, by a former president whose invective has become a familiar backdrop of American life, was part of a pattern of increasingly sharp language from Mr. Trump.

Days earlier, he told hundreds of Republican activists in California that shoplifters should be shot . Not long before that, he insinuated that the military general he personally appointed as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should be executed for treason .

Since he first became a political candidate in the 2016 presidential race, Mr. Trump has glorified violence, suggesting he wanted to hit a protester and offering to pay the legal fees if his supporters struck protesters at his rallies. But as Mr. Trump has been indicted four times in four jurisdictions in the last five months, and now faces a civil fraud trial in New York, his violent speech has escalated.

Mr. Trump’s public remarks, whether online, in interviews or at rallies, have always had the potential for incendiary effects. A number of defendants prosecuted over the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, said they believed they were acting on Mr. Trump’s orders.

Part of what has changed is that his violent remarks now come at a time when the indictments have already stoked anger among his supporters and when attacks against institutions, judges and prosecutors around the country have increased. The special counsel, Jack Smith, has asked the federal judge overseeing the case in which Mr. Trump was charged with trying to subvert the democratic process in 2020 for a limited gag order because of his threatening statements against witnesses, prosecutors and others.

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COMMENTS

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