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Advocacy Update: COVID-19 and WRV Launches

Published: 20.03.2020
Advocacy Update: COVID-19 and WRV Launches; 146th WHA EB
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Over the last few months, we have been working with a number of our members to raise the global profile of eye health and advocate for change at the country level. This has yielded some early successes; a draft eye health resolution (to be approved at this year’s World Health Assembly) and six country launches of the World Report on Vision. We had produced and would still like to share with you these materials, for IAPB members who wish to support and contribute to this work.

However, the majority of governments focus right now is quite rightly on tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We would therefore encourage all members to postpone the above lobbying activity and country launches, except in the very few individual cases where this is considered appropriate. If you think your government is one of those exceptional cases please speak to us.

 Fortunately, we are already in a very good position: over 47 countries are supporting the WHA eye health resolution; and members have come forward to lead or support 54 more country launches. This work can and will easily be picked back up once the situation improves. We will continue to keep you updated and will inform you when it is a suitable and proper time to re-engage governments on the this work.

We thank you for your support through this dynamic situation.