Clearly, the global eye care campaign, released an animated video on Wednesday to support their initiative to provide school children across the world with affordable glasses, eyesight tests, and other treatments by 2030.
Over 300 million children worldwide currently have impaired vision, and this number is only expected to rise within the next three decades.
Poor eyesight can severely impact a child’s ability to participate in school. With access to affordable glasses and eye care, all children would be able to see the board at school clearly and read their textbooks without visual impairment.
Affordable eye care aligns with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but particularly coincides with SDG 4 on ensuring quality education, Clearly’s Chief Operating Officer Will Straw told Global Citizen.
“Eye care is a cross-cutting issue,” Straw said, adding that children who can see the blackboard and read thanks to having acces to appropriate eye care can lead them to additional schooling.
⚠️ WORLD LEADERS
— Clearly (@ClearlyWorld) February 26, 2020
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This year, you could change the future of 300 million children. It’s easier than you think.
We’ve had the solution for 700 years.
Use your power and your vision at #CHOGM2020.
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The World Bank published a report in December revealing that eye health is crucial in providing children with an inclusive education and is a relatively affordable way to shape a child’s ability to thrive and reach their full potential, according to Straw.
Clearly is taking its campaign to the 2020 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June to encourage all countries to implement primary eye care in schools.
The campaign is also anticipating a resolution on eye care at both the World Health Assembly and the UN General Assembly this year.
“We want to see that momentum build and countries around the world to improve their eye care systems,” Straw said.