The eighth meeting of the General Assembly of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has opened its sessions in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires. The occasion witnessed the ceremonies of granting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the Global Participation Award as well as the Regional Achievement Award in presence of a folk of international personalities and health organizations lead by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Minister of Health Dr. Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Mane received the two awards from IAPB President Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao in presence of HRH Prince Abdul Aziz bin Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
"By the aid of the Almighty God and the unlimited support devoted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed consistent growth in all aspects of life, especially in the aspect of health", said Dr. Al-Mane in his speech during the opening session of the meetings.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in awareness of the fact that 75% of blindness cases are treatable or avoidable, has formed the National Committee for Preventing Blindness under the presidency of HRH Prince Abdul Aziz bin Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud with participation of the Ministry of Health. A five year plan has been set for combating blindness in the Kingdom during the period from 2007 to 2011.
The Kingdom has also played an important role in submitting the "2020 Vision – The Right to Sight" initiative to IAPB General Assembly, which approved the initiative in 2003. It has been keen to continue its support to the initiative through its work to ensure issuance of the decisions required for its implementation.
In addition, the Kingdom has succeeded, in collaboration with the other sister countries, to obtain agreement on its proposal regarding giving priority to the efforts directed towards blindness prevention. It has worked during WHO General Assembly meeting in its 60th session, held in Geneva in 2006, to include visual disability clearly within the third strategic purpose of WHO medium term strategic plan for the years 2008-2013.