Delivering Results for Vision: Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting Side Event

As health leaders gathered in Geneva for the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting, a high-level side event on eye health highlighted how partnerships across the Commonwealth are advancing progress in vision care. The session, “How Partnerships for Eye Health Deliver Results in the Commonwealth: Lessons for the Global Summit on Eye Health,” was co-hosted by Guyana and Papua New Guinea, and brought together leaders from government, civil society, and international organisations. 

Datuk Dr Noor Fariza Nga, Deputy Director General of Health, Malaysia, delivered the keynote address, spotlighting Malaysia’s leadership in national eye health efforts and the importance of integrated, equitable approaches to tackling vision loss. 

The session opened with remarks from Drew Keys, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Strategy at IAPB, who emphasised the importance of Commonwealth action on eye health as momentum builds toward the 2026 Global Summit on Eye Health. Participants also heard from Layne Robinson, Head of Social Policy Development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, who reinforced the Commonwealth’s commitment to health equity and the importance of vision as a development issue. 

Moderated by Brandon Ah Tong, Director of Global Policy and Advocacy at The Fred Hollows Foundation, the panel featured:   

Datuk Dr Noor Fariza Nga, Deputy DG of Health, Malaysia 

Ms Sumrana Yasmin, Deputy Technical Director for Eye Health and Uncorrected Refractive Error, Sightsavers 

Fabrizio D’Esposito, Head of Region, Western Pacific, IAPB 

The discussion focused on country-led strategies in tackling vision loss, including trachoma elimination, refractive error services, and integrated primary care. Panellists reflected on how effective partnerships between governments, civil society, and multilateral actors are critical to driving national and regional progress. 

Peter Holland, CEO of IAPB, closed the session with a call to action, urging continued Commonwealth leadership and investment to ensure that eye health is no longer overlooked but recognised as central to achieving health, education, and economic development goals. 

As the Commonwealth continues to champion equity and inclusion, the event underscored a clear message: healthy vision is essential to a fairer, more resilient, and more prosperous future for all.

Watch the video here.