The Value of Vision: The Roadmap to the Global Summit for Eye Health

Join us at the WHA79 official side event on “The Value of Vision: The Roadmap to Global Summit for Eye Health”, for a high-level discussion on how stronger political leadership, practical policy action and measurable commitments can accelerate progress on eye health.

Co-sponsored by the Governments of the United Kingdom and Malaysia, alongside Sightsavers and co-organised by IAPB, CBM Christian Blind Mission and The Fred Hollows Foundation, this side event will bring together Ministers of Health, senior government officials, and global partners to build political momentum toward the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health. The Summit will be hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November 2026. It aims to secure ambitious commitments to expand access to eye care for the 1 billion people living with avoidable sight loss.

The side-event will help catalyse political momentum at the World Health Assembly, with Member States signalling national commitments on eye health in Geneva, drawing on WHO tools and stakeholder-led initiatives for elevation to Heads of State at the Global Summit.

Highlights of the event:

• High-level opening remarks,
• Keynote interventions from government and multilateral leaders
• WHO technical briefing on new cataract and refractive error guidance
• A panel discussion on integrating eye health within broader national health priorities and commitments.

In-person attendance requires WHO special badge to access the venue. Due to limited seats, we are prioritizing in-person attendance by invite only.

If you are attending WHA and would like to join the event, or have any questions, please feel free to contact Junu Shrestha, Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager at IAPB at jshrestha@iapb.org.