Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Global leaders, parliamentarians, healthcare pioneers, philanthropists and civil society representatives gathered at the House of Lords on January 31 to commemorate the International Day for a World Without Childhood Blindness (IDWWCB) and mark 49 years of service by the Eye Foundation of America (EFA). The high-level event, chaired by Lord Rami Ranger, renewed the international call to eliminate preventable childhood blindness and highlighted its strong connection with education, equity and sustainable development.
Founded in 1977 following the first eye camp organised by Dr. V K Raju in Vijayawada, India, the Eye Foundation of America has expanded its work across India, Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom, focusing on prevention, early screening, treatment and long-term strengthening of eye-care systems for vulnerable children. “Forty-nine years ago, this mission began with one simple belief—that no child should go blind because of poverty or lack of access,” said Dr Raju, Founder of EFA. “Today, that belief has become a global responsibility.”
Addressing the gathering, Lord Rami Ranger said the goal of ending childhood blindness is achievable through coordinated action by governments, philanthropy and civil society, and urged stronger policy focus on child eye health. The commemoration featured participation from prominent international voices, including Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Chief (China), who highlighted the interlinkage between vision, learning outcomes and sustainable development, and Padma Bhushan Dr Vara Prasad Reddy, Chairman of Shanta Biotechnics, who underlined the importance of innovation and ethical philanthropy in advancing public health outcomes.
Dr Sam Maddula, Board Member and Major Donor of EFA, stressed the long-term value of investing in child eye health. “Restoring sight is not charity—it is one of the most powerful investments we can make in a child’s future and in a nation’s human capital,” he said.
Speakers noted that over 90 per cent of a child’s learning depends on vision, yet millions continue to suffer avoidable blindness, threatening educational progress and future livelihoods. The mission was also linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
As EFA approaches its 50th year, the organisation called on governments to integrate child eye health into national health and education strategies, urged corporates to adopt sight restoration as a high-impact CSR priority, and appealed to international agencies to recognise childhood blindness as a pressing development concern. About Eye Foundation of America Founded in 1977, the Eye Foundation of America is a global non-profit organisation working to prevent and treat childhood blindness through hospitals, screening programmes, training initiatives and public health partnerships. It is registered and operational in the United States, United Kingdom and India, with programmes across Asia and Africa
