PRESS RELEASE: Antigua and Barbuda join with UN Friends of Vision to host UN activities as part of World Sight Day

Antigua and Barbuda continues to be a shining example to the global community in raising awareness about the importance of child eye health and the critical need for accessible and early eye care interventions.

AS part of today’s observation of World Sight Day, the Antigua and Barbuda Mission in New York has played a pivotal role in hosting sight screenings and an exhibition at UNICEF House and the United Nations headquarters.

The events represent a collaborative effort between Antigua and Barbuda, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Friends of Vision Group, which was founded by Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Walton Webson and who also serves as its co-chair.

Certified eye care professionals from UN Friends of Vision Secretariate as well as members of Vision Spring and OneSight Foundation and the World Council of Optometry were on hand to conduct the screenings, dispense glasses and provide advice. The events were open to all UN and UNICEF staff as well as those working in UN Missions.

“The UN Friends of Vision group, supported by our friends in the sight sector are pleased to host these two screenings at the UN Head Quarters and UNICEF House to raise awareness of the global issue of poor vision, especially among children around the world who need access to affordable eye health,” Ambassador Webson stated.

Nearly 400 UN staff members, including everyone from Chef de Cabinet Earle Courtenay Rattray and the Permanent Representatives of Greece, Cuba, and Haiti to UN security guards, received sight tests during the two events.

Speaking at the event Andrés Franco, Secretary of the Executive Board, UNICEF said “UNICEF house is the house of children, everything that matters to children matters to us, this event shows how important it is to take care of children’s eyes.”

Co-chair of the UN Friends of Vision Group Ambassador Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nation noted: “Eye health is an agenda that is so positive, it’s so achievable, so doable across the globe. Yes, today is about eye health, but it’s also about education, sustainable development, gender, but above all it’s about unleashing the potential of so many people.”

“Half of sight loss in children can be easily prevented or treated, most often with nothing more than a pair of glasses,” stated Caroline Casey, President of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

First Secretary Claxton Duberry has been spearheading the activities as coordinator on behalf of the Antigua and Barbuda Mission.

“The importance of eye care for our children cannot be overstated. It’s a critical aspect of their overall health and development. I’m very proud that Antigua and Barbuda is taking a leading role in promoting this vital cause on the global stage.

The event also featured an photography exhibition of images showcasing the work of IAPB members in promoting child eye health. This year’s Love Your Eyes campaign for World Sight Day is highlighting the importance of children and young people leading the charge in advocating for eye care that is accessible, available and affordable.