IAPB works to encourage the formation of national
prevention of blindness committees and programmes, led by governments with inputs
from the WHO, local and international non-governmental organisations. These now
exist in over eighty countries.
A significant feature of the IAPB over the past decade
has been the growth of a network of international non-governmental organisations.
These organisations are active at all levels of eye
health provision, including health education, mobile eye care services, secondary
and tertiary eye hospitals and clinics, and the training of national personnel.
The latter include primary eye care workers, ophthalmic assistants and nurses,
ophthalmologists and programme managers.
IAPB holds a General Assembly every four years and
regional conferences in the intervening years. The Agency also produces a quarterly
newsletter. The meetings and newsletter
are used as a forum for the exchange of information and ideas, and in particular
for demonstrating successful approaches leading to the development of comprehensive
eye care and the prevention of blindness.
