Nairobi Is Our Moment — Why Africa Must Be in the Room

When I think about what 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE coming to Nairobi means for our region, I feel something beyond professional excitement. This is personal. 

Africa has long been at the forefront of eye health innovation, not despite our challenges, but because of them. From community-led outreach programmes in rural Sub-Saharan Africa to mobile screening technologies developed and deployed across the continent, our region has been quietly redefining what is possible in eye health for decades. This June, we finally get to show the world. 

For the fifth 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE, Africa takes centre stage. Nairobi will unite global leaders, members and changemakers to accelerate progress on the 2030 In Sight strategy. For colleagues across our region, this is a rare and extraordinary opportunity, not just to attend a global event, but to host it. To shape it. To fill its sessions with the evidence, the stories, and the solutions that have been built right here on this continent. 

The Language Barrier Is No Longer a Barrier 

One of the things I am most excited to tell colleagues across Francophone Africa is this, live English to French AI translation will be available. For too long, language has been a quiet barrier to full participation in global eye health dialogue. That changes in Nairobi. Whether you are joining us from Senegal, the DRC, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon or anywhere across French-speaking Africa, the conversation is now yours to fully engage with. 

A Programme Built for Action 

The sessions now taking shape reflect exactly the conversations our region needs to be part of. The programme is structured around four streams, Act, Allocate, Accelerate, and the 2030 In Sight Action Café, and together they cover the full journey from policy and leadership, to financing, to the innovations and models that are transforming delivery on the ground. 

For Africa, every one of these streams is relevant. How do we turn national commitments into funded programmes? How do we scale what is working in our communities? How do we make the economic case to ministries of finance that have historically overlooked eye health? These are our questions, and Nairobi is where we work through them together. 

Sessions are live now and the programme continues to grow. I encourage you to explore what is already available and start planning your three days. 

Regional Voices, Front and Centre 

What makes this moment even more meaningful is that voices shaping this event reflect the strength and diversity of our region. From public health leaders and clinicians to programme implementers, innovators, and advocates, African expertise is not just represented, it is leading the conversation. These are the voices that understand the realities on the ground, the systems we are working within, and the solutions that are already delivering impact. As more speakers are announced in the coming weeks, this platform will continue to grow, but what is already clear is this: Africa’s voice will be heard, and it will help shape what comes next. 

A Critical Moment for the Continent 

We are five years on from the UN resolution, and the Global Summit for Eye Health is approaching this November in Antigua and Barbuda. The decisions and commitments made between now and then will shape the trajectory of eye health for years to come. Africa cannot be an afterthought in those conversations, and with Nairobi as our stage, it will not be. 

This year, all roads lead to Nairobi. Under the theme “Unite for Impact”, this is a moment for leaders, innovators and advocates to come together, share ideas, and spark collaborations that will push the boundaries of what is possible in eye health.  

To colleagues across the region I am extending a personal invitation. Come to Nairobi. Bring your work, your questions, your ambitions, and your voice. 

The world is coming to our region. Let’s make sure Africa is ready to lead. 

📍 Nairobi, Kenya | 📅 4–6 June 2026