Int’l conference on eye care begins in Nepal

KATHMANDU: The international conference, In Sight of Life 2030, focusing on eye care, has officially commenced in Nepal.

Organized for the first time in the country by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), the conference brings together representatives from IAPB’s member organizations, which work worldwide in the fields of blindness prevention and eye health.

IAPB members include international NGOs, eye hospitals, educational institutions, professional organizations, and corporate entities dedicated to eye health.

Among the IAPB member organizations in Nepal are the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Nepal Eye Hospital, Tilganga Eye Institute, and the BP Eye Foundation.

As the umbrella organization for various global eye health associations, IAPB has been advocating for eye health internationally.

The agency organizes different international conferences each year to promote global cooperation, inspire leadership, and strengthen advocacy efforts in the field of eye health.

The 2024 IAPB conference was held in Mexico. According to IAPB’s Southeast Asia chief, Yudh Dhwaj Sapkota, the conference in Nepal has attracted over 500 delegates from around 100 countries.

Dr. Shailesh Kumar Mishra, Executive Director of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, mentioned that the discussions during this conference will particularly focus on strategies and plans required for global eye health by 2030.

Bharat Bahadur Chand, the Secretary-General of the Sangh, expressed that the conference would not only help globalize Nepal’s eye care services but also contribute significantly to the development of the country’s tourism.

He stated, “Hosting In Sight of Life 2030 in Nepal is a matter of great pride for us. It will help promote our country’s eye care services internationally and play an important role in the development of Nepal’s tourism sector.”

The Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh currently operates 28 eye hospitals, 160 eye care centers, and 45 district branches across the country.

Since its establishment, the organization has treated over 43.6 million eye patients, including individuals from other countries. They have also performed over 1.5 million eye surgeries.