The Global Goals for Sustainable Development aim to achieve three extraordinary things – end poverty, combat climate change and fight injustice and inequality.
But just how does eye care fit in?
GLOBAL GOAL #1
NO POVERTY
Restoring someone’s sight is the single most cost-effective health intervention to reduce poverty.1
GLOBAL GOAL #3
GOOD HEALTH AND WELL BEING
By 2050 half of the world’s population will be short sighted (myopic) - potentially the biggest public health issue of our generation. Up to 80% of vision impairment is preventable or treatable.2
GLOBAL GOAL #4
QUALITY EDUCATION
80% of what a child learns is processed through their sight. Approximately 90% of children with low-vision who live in developing countries are deprived of schooling.3
GLOBAL GOAL #5
GENDER EQUALITY
If a girl has her vision corrected, she has a better chance of achieving more at school. And for each year she stays in school her income will rise by 10-20%.4 An educated girl will grow up to gain her rightful place in society and be a force for change, raising the status of girls and women.
GLOBAL GOAL #8
GOOD JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
The global economy loses I$272 billion in productivity each year because of uncorrected vision impairment.5 That’s more than the total GDP of sixty countries – combined.
GLOBAL GOAL #10
RECDUCE INEQUALITIES
About 90% of the world’s visually impaired live in low-income settings.6 By correcting the vision of all of our children, we have the potential to remove one of the barriers they face in achieving economic and educational equity in the future.
GLOBAL GOAL #17
PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Our Children’s Vision subscribes to the goal of inclusive partnerships built upon principles and values, a shared vision, and shared goals that place people and the planet at the centre. By building global, regional, national and local collaborative partnerships we can advance progress in eye health services for children.
