Ministry of Health- World Sight Day Message

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is pleased to join with other World Health Organisation
(WHO) member states in the observance of World Sight Day 2020, under the theme, “Hope
in Sight”.

World Sight Day is observed on October 8 every year and is coordinated by the
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). It became an official IAPB
worldwide event in the year 2000. It is an international day of awareness, held to focus
attention on the global issue of eye health. More than a billion people cannot see well,
because they do not have access to glasses.

In keeping with global measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the IAPB has
encouraged all nations to take adequate precautions and strictly follow Government
guidelines when planning media events for World Sight Day.

As such, suggestions were given for online events and to engage media with resources that
can be accessed without risking crowding, contact, or any potential to spread COVID-19.
Local activities have therefore been modified in keeping with national guidelines for the
prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Over the past several years, the Department of Ophthalmology at Georgetown Public
Hospital Coporation (GPHC) has been spearheading annual activities in commemoration of
World Sight Day under the leadership of Dr. Shailendra Sugrim.

GPHC will be hosting a Virtual World Sight Day Ophthalmic Session in commemoration of
World Sight Day for Eye Care Professionals and Physicians.

This is an educational session entitled, “Saving Vision through Nutrition”, and will
encourage physicians and eye care professionals to urge patients to inculcate good
nutrition practices.

This will be a virtual zoom e-meeting to be held on the evening of World Sight Day, October
8, from 7:00 to 8:00pm. This lecture will be delivered by Nutritionist and Diabetes
Educator, Ms. Djamilsa Lambert, of the GPHC Nutrition Centre.

The GPHC’s Department of Ophthalmology, along with Orbis International and Novartis,
has also developed posters focusing on controlling diabetes with good nutrition and also
general information about diabetic retinopathy. These vinyl posters will be distributed to
Health Centres and public spaces.

This year, with tireless support from Orbis International and Novartis, a new Diabetic Eye
Centre was launched at the Enmore Polyclinic in August 2020, where free diabetic eye
screening and general eye resting are now available.

GPHC is now working with the Ministry of Health towards setting up another screening
centre in Region Six.

The Ministry will continue to work with a commitment to provide comprehensive eye care
services, covering a range of vision impairments, as well as prevention to rehabilitation and
care.

I assure all Guyanese that all efforts are being made to improve and develop eye care
services across all regions of Guyana and you will hear more about our initiatives in the
coming weeks and months.