On 12 October Vision 2020 Australia and the Australian Council for International Development co-hosted a joint event of the Parliamentary Friends Group for Eye Health and Vision Care and the Parliamentary Friends of the Millennium Development Goals at Parliament House, Canberra. The event, focussing on the Avoidable Blindness Initiative and the work of Vision 2020 Australia’s Global Consortium, was well represented by federal members of Parliament, advisers, government officials and Vision 2020 Australia and ACFID members and staff.
Vision 2020 Australia was delighted that Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Julie Bishop were able to speak at the event. Both affirmed their support for the ongoing inclusion of blindness prevention programs within Australia’s aid program. Foreign Minister Rudd thanked Vision 2020 Australia for our ‘passion and commitment to making a difference’ and encouraged those present to continue demonstrating the value and effectiveness of eye health interventions. A highlight of the evening was the screening of a video demonstrating the work of the Global Consortium in Vietnam and Samoa.