MEDIA RELEASE
Leaders from the Mexican optometric and optical industry came together to celebrate the launch of the global not-for-profit organisation “Optometry Giving Sight” in Mexico at an exclusive event at the MELIA Hotel in Mexico City.
Optometry Giving Sight is the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error – simply the need for an eye exam and glasses. It funds sustainable eye and vision care projects in underserved communities in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.
“Refractive error blindness and impaired vision is one of the greatest public health problems in the world and Mexico is no exception – with 44% of the population of 110 million lacking access to eye health services,” explained Dr. Juan Carlos Aragon, Global Chair of Optometry Giving Sight.
“In Mexico our focus will be the development of more, and improved, schools of optometry and the development of the required infrastructure to ensure that Mexico has the necessary human resources to tackle this growing public health problem."
Global and local companies including Devlyn, CooperVision, Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, Essilor, Safilo, Valeant, Bausch & Lomb, Carl Zeiss, Marchon, Lucy’s Optical, Grupo Europeo, Grupo Viva, Polimeros Opticos and Opticas America welcomed Optometry Giving Sight’s arrival to Mexico and unanimously pledged their support to collaborate and improve access to sustainable eye care in Mexico. Founding partners the World Council of Optometry, Brien Holden Vision Institute and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness were also in attendance.
“Thanks to our strategic alliance with the Devlyn Group, we will launch our global fundraising campaign here in 2014 and collaborate to raise funds for projects in Mexico,” said Christina Sanko, Country Manager for Optometry Giving Sight.
Lic. Patrick Devlyn, General Director Devlyn USC said that there is a large unmet need for more qualified optometrists to support the needs of the Mexican population and that he recognized and supported all efforts geared towards improving this circumstance.
“The world is changing; so is Mexico as a country,” he said. “In the Devlyn Group, we are committed to meet the changing needs of our customers to provide access to high quality eye care and in ensuring that our staff is able to provide the care required. Our strategic alliance with Optometry Giving Sight is an important strategy for us to lead and contribute to the mobilization of resources in Mexico to support this. I personally urge all players in the industry to join this new and exciting initiative and show their affection for the Mexican population’s well-being."
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About Optometry Giving Sight
Optometry Giving Sight is the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error – simply the need for an eye examination and glasses. It was created in 2003 by the World Council of Optometry, Brien Holden Vision Institute and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness as a means of mobilising resources from the global optometric community to fund the development of sustainable eye and vision care projects in communities where these do not currently exist. To date it has provided funds to more than 67 projects in 38 countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Americas. from the global optometric community to fund the development of sustainable eye and vision care projects in communities where these do not currently exist. To date it has provided funds to more than 67 projects in 38 countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Americas. from the global optometric community to fund the development of sustainable eye and vision care projects in communities where these do not currently exist. To date it has provided funds to more than 67 projects in 38 countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Americas.
About Devlyn
Devlyn, with an extensive network of over 900 retail outlets and more than 4000 employees is a market leader and highly respected family owned optical business in Mexico. Foundation Devlyn is a non-for -profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable Mexicans through screening and eyeglass donations.
Media Contact
Lorraine Walsh, (02) 9385 4867, lorraine.walsh@givingsight.org