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World Health Day highlights the challenge of blindness in cities

7 April 2010

Whilst cities present great economic and cultural opportunities, rapid population growth poses enormous challenges.

2007 was a major global turning point when records showed that, for the first time, over half of the world’s population now live in cities. 

The speed of urbanization has outstripped governments’ abilities to provide health services and the urban poor are disproportionately affected.

World Health Day aims to raise awareness of the health impacts of urbanization and highlights the need for partnerships across sectors – public, private and NGO – to address it. 

How we can help

That is why our latest commitment, ‘A New Vision’, made in 2008, is to invest US$ 20 million to bring sustainable and comprehensive eye-care services to 20 million people in impoverished urban areas across our markets.

Since we launched our commitment:

• We have raised US$ 5 million which will be matched by the Bank
• Projects have been set up in 16 cities across 11 countries
• We have already reached over 480,000 people through medical treatment, screening for eye diseases and conditions causing visual impairment, glasses provision and performing surgeries
• As part of that, we have been able to restore sight to 15,000 adults and over 680 children.

Meet some of those who have been helped.