ID :
24645
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 17:21
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https://oananews.org//node/24645
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UAE marks World Sight Day
Abu Dhabi, Oct 15, 2008 (WAM) - The UAE will join the world in observing the World Sight Day which falls on 15th October but with pride as a launch pad of Noor Dubai, the world's most massive therapeutic, preventive, and education eye care programmes. The three components will jointly seek to treat and prevent blindness and visual impairment in the UAE and developing countries on an international scale.
October 15, 1970 was declared International White Cane Safety Day for the first time by the President of the International Federation of the Blind. World Sight Day, held on the second Thursday of October every year to focus on mitigating global blindness, aims to raise public awareness about the prevention and treatment of loss of vision. The white cane is now recognised as the blind person's mobility aid the world over.
In an address on the occasion, Minister of Social Affairs Maryam Al Roumi said :'' This year's celebrations coincide with the Noor Dubai, a charity drive launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to deliver eye health services to over one million people worldwide.
''Noor Dubai has highlighted the international depth of the visual impairment and really revived hope of sight restoration to many visually challenged persons around the globe,'' the minister added. The local theme of this year's celebrations is ''My School is My Way to My Society''.
''This year's celebrations come under circumstances of better legislative framework for persons with special needs locally and internationally, she said, adding that the UAE signed on 8th February 2008 the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which guarantees social, health and other rights for persons with special needs including visually-impaired persons.
''The World White Cane Safety Day delivers an important message to the world communities to follow ethics of dealing with the blind and provide them with facilities in educational and public utilities,'' she indicated.
While the world's population is ageing and individuals are living longer, blindness from chronic conditions is also rising. About 80% of the world's 45 million blind people are aged over 50 years. The great majority (90%) of blind people live in low-income countries, where older people - especially older women - face many 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.
World Sight Day is the main advocacy event for "VISION 2020: The Right to Sight", a global effort to prevent blindness. VISION 2020 is coordinated by WHO, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and public and private partners.
October 15, 1970 was declared International White Cane Safety Day for the first time by the President of the International Federation of the Blind. World Sight Day, held on the second Thursday of October every year to focus on mitigating global blindness, aims to raise public awareness about the prevention and treatment of loss of vision. The white cane is now recognised as the blind person's mobility aid the world over.
In an address on the occasion, Minister of Social Affairs Maryam Al Roumi said :'' This year's celebrations coincide with the Noor Dubai, a charity drive launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to deliver eye health services to over one million people worldwide.
''Noor Dubai has highlighted the international depth of the visual impairment and really revived hope of sight restoration to many visually challenged persons around the globe,'' the minister added. The local theme of this year's celebrations is ''My School is My Way to My Society''.
''This year's celebrations come under circumstances of better legislative framework for persons with special needs locally and internationally, she said, adding that the UAE signed on 8th February 2008 the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which guarantees social, health and other rights for persons with special needs including visually-impaired persons.
''The World White Cane Safety Day delivers an important message to the world communities to follow ethics of dealing with the blind and provide them with facilities in educational and public utilities,'' she indicated.
While the world's population is ageing and individuals are living longer, blindness from chronic conditions is also rising. About 80% of the world's 45 million blind people are aged over 50 years. The great majority (90%) of blind people live in low-income countries, where older people - especially older women - face many 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.
World Sight Day is the main advocacy event for "VISION 2020: The Right to Sight", a global effort to prevent blindness. VISION 2020 is coordinated by WHO, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and public and private partners.
