Vision 2020 conducts a major workshop on eliminating avoidable blindness

It is said that a work well begun is half completed, the high profile and enthusiastic participation of a cross section of eminent personalities representing the government, NGO’s, Health care providers and senior members of the Press at the recently held seminar ‘Media and its role in Eliminating Avoidable Blindness” organized by the India chapter of Vision 2020, facilitated by Joseph Eye Hospital and hosted by Sankara Nethralaya was a clear indication of the beginning of a strong and strategic alliance with the media that would take awareness on eye care to the next level.

The one day function and deliberations held at the Sri VD.Swami Auditorium, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai on 10th December 2012 provided the ideal platform to discuss the various issues pertaining to eye care and spreading awareness on the same. The observations made by the eminent participants both in their addresses and the spirited panel discussion that followed helped in bringing forth their view points, thrashing out differences and evolving a strong and collective strategy to combat blindness by spreading awareness on eye care and to mobilize support for such initiatives from corporate bodies and the general public.

Dr NK Agarwal, deputy director general, National Program for ontrol of Blindness (NPCB) highlighted the importance and roll of NPCB and its role in eliminating blindness in India.

The spontaneous response to the clarion call made by Vision 2020 and active participation by senior members of the media like Shri N.Ram, Former Editor-in-chief of ‘The Hindu’, Shri Arun Ram, Senior Editor, The Times of India, Shri Rengarajan J , Senior Correspondent, Dinamani, Shrimathi Aarthi Dhar, Senior Assistant Editor, Delhi Bureau of ‘The Hindu’, Shri SN.Kulkarni, Former Editor, Sakaal and Advisor, Kesari, Maharashtra, Dr Neeraja Prabhakar, Programme Executive from the All India Radio and many more journalists was a clear indication that it was the beginning of a great new chapter in creating awareness on eye care with the tremendous reach and power of the Fourth Estate.