Prevention of Blindness Week 2023 (April 1-7): History, Events, Facts, Quotes

The government of India organizes a week-long campaign Prevention of Blindness Week to raise awareness about blindness from April 1 to April 7. People who are blind have a serious and unpleasant problem that others don’t have to deal with since they can’t see. Although the campaign’s goal is to raise awareness of the importance of eyes to the visually impaired across the nation, many people in India are born or acquired blindness.

There are around 40 million persons who are blind in the globe at this time. The Indian government has launched a programme to raise awareness of the disability population and to improve the employment opportunities for the blind by building numerous institutions, departments, hospitals, and other facilities. All week, many health and vision-related topics will be covered. People in India have protested opposing their privileges, which they are entitled to.

Prevention of Blindness Week History

Jawaharlal Nehru and Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur served as the organization’s first two patrons when it was established in 1960. The NSPB is a non-profit organisation that relies solely on sponsorships and initiatives from the public. Vision Savers, Rotary Worldwide, and other significant corporations are active partners of NSPB.

The WHO teamed together with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and other non-governmental organizations to create the worldwide effort “The Right to Sight” with the goal of eliminating preventable blindness. Furthermore, India was the very first nation to request a low-interest credit from the World Bank’s IAPB.

Prevention of Blindness Week 2023 Events

A wide range of activities and programs are being planned by state and non-government groups on this particular day:

• Affordable educational materials, understanding of eye care and eye disorders; free eye checkups for refractive problems, cataract diagnosis; and free eyeglasses for those who need them are provided through community health clinics.
• Prevention of congenital eye problems is accomplished with the hepatitis and measles vaccinations, which are given out free of charge at these camps.
• At order to raise awareness, a variety of banners and booklets are posted in schools.
• Several eye campsites are held to raise public awareness about the need for eye and cornea donor for transplants.

Check: Other special days in April 2023

Prevention of Blindness Week 2023: Suggestions for Maintaining your Eyesight

1. Dietary Considerations

Vitamin C, lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, and zinc are all crucial for proper eyes. Nuts and legumes as well as citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit are high in these elements. Leafy greens and rich seafood are also good sources of these vitamins and minerals. Several food categories should be included in a well-balanced diet.

2. Stop Smoking

In terms of eye health, cigarettes are the most terrible thing one could do. Tobacco use has been linked to an increased risk of developing age-related eye problems, dry eye condition, diabetes mellitus and cataracts. Nonsmokers are less likely than smokers to acquire age-related eye problems.

3. Shield your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV radiation.

Shield your eyes from the sun’s dangerous UV radiation by wearing sunglasses whenever possible. You may be at risk of developing cataracts and eye problems if you are exposed to excessive amounts of UV radiation.

4. You should see an eye doctor on a regular basis.

Everybody, particularly youngsters, should get regular eye checkups. It not only keeps your eyes safe, but it also improves your vision. Constant eye checks may help identify problems like myopia, which exhibit no signs.

Prevention of Blindness Week Important Facts

1. The proportion of blind persons in India is the highest in the world, according to the latest statistics.
2. Out of the 37 million blind individuals worldwide, almost 15 million live in India.
3. In India, one in three persons is visually impaired.
4. In India, starvation, trachoma, and cataract are some of the leading causes of blindness. A lack of eye doctors, as well as donated eyeballs, is other contributing factors.
5. Child blindness is the biggest reason of vitamin A insufficiency in India.
6. In India, cataract is by far the most prevalent cause of blindness.
7. Seventh, states like as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have significant rates of blindness.
8. There are almost two-thirds of blind people living in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh as well as Maharashtra and Rajasthan in India.

Prevention of Blindness Week 2023 Quotes

• “There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark.” (Helen Keller)

• “I think we all suffer from acute blindness at times. Life is a constant journey of trying to open your eyes. I’m just beginning my journey, and my eyes aren’t fully open yet.” (Olivia Thirlby)

• “The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.” (Robertson Davies)

• “If you had weak eyes, they needed exercise to get strong. Glasses were like crutches. They prevented people with feeble eyes from seeing the world on their own.” (Jeannette Walls)

• “Visionaries see beyond the boundaries of eyesight.”(Gift Gugu Mona)

Frequently Asked Questions