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World Sight Day
World Sight Day is a global initiative providing an opportunity to raise the profile of the causes of blindness and vision impairment and the preventative measures. It takes place on the second Thursday in October every year.
L-R Ayse Bavage and her 2 children Jack and Emma, the Victorian Health Minister David Davis MP and Ayse's mother Jan Field.
13 October 2011 was World Sight Day—an international day of awareness around the global issue of avoidable blindness and vision impairment.
In addition to supporting the activity of members, Vision 2020 Australia undertook activity of its own including a national advocacy mail out sent to all federal and Victorian parliamentarians containing key messages, a World Sight Day badge to wear on the day and two case studies; John Egglestone, a 71 year old Victorian man with glaucoma and Meas Yath, a 66 year old Cambodian woman who received sight restoring surgery on her cataracts as a result of work being done by the Vision 2020 Australia Global Consortium.
As there was no global theme this year, Vision 2020 Australia used the day to focus on family history and the increased risk to Victorians if a serious eye condition such as glaucoma or aged-related macular degeneration exists in their family history for the Vision Initiative program.
A media picture opportunity was set up in Parliament House Gardens on the day with the Victorian Health Minister David Davis. The minister was pictured with three guide dogs-in-training from Guide Dogs Victoria as well as a powerful case study. Ayse Bavage, 38, was diagnosed with glaucoma when she was 28 and was not aware until recently of how extensively glaucoma featured in her family. Her mother, grandmother, great aunt and her second cousin all have glaucoma making her two young children eight times more likely to develop the disease. Ayse’s story serves as critical reminder about the importance of regular eye tests to save your sight.
Vision 2020 Australia also distributed a media release to print, TV, radio, online and eye health trade media. The media release encouraged Victorians to start talking about eye health with their parents and grandparents as having all the facts is a powerful tool when it comes to tackling vision loss and blindness.
Radio interviews were also given with several different stations including: ABC 666 in Canberra, ABC 774 in Melbourne, Radio National ‘Life Matters’ program, Vision Australia ‘Talking Vision’ program.
Activity conducted by our members included the World Sight Day Challenge, radio broadcasts, various articles published in member publications, segments on national television promoting the key messages, and fundraising events.
