The right to sight

This day is of great significance to all individuals, whether visually impaired or not, and is observed annually on the second Thursday in the month of October. This year it falls on October 13 and the theme is “Eye Care For All – Stronger Together.” The World Health Organisation Global Action Plan 2014-2019 seeks to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment by 25 percent by 2020 .

Opthalmologist, Dr Desiree Murray and her Volunteers For World Sight Day Team (VFWST ), secretary Del Phillips and treasurer Tayab Razac, have planned a week of local activities which will include: The 11th annual Walk for Sight on October 9, which takes place at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Portof- Spain, starting opposite Stanmore Avenue, with on-site registration at 6 am. On-line registration can be done through www.worldsightdayTT .org. A donation of $20.20 is requested, which entitles participants to one shirt, refreshments and vision and screening.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) public symposium on eye health on World Sight Day on October 13. Interested persons are invited to the free public symposium on eye health from 1pm - 6pm, in Amphitheatre B of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, UWI St Augustine campus. Onsite registration takes place from noon – 1pm on the day. The theme for the symposium is “The integrated eye care team – protecting our nation’s sight” where the aim is to emphasise the multidisciplinary approach to eye care and blindness prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary), again thereby raising public awareness.

‘Diner dans le noir’ (Dinner in the dark) on October 15. The formal affair, “D?ner dans le noir” will take place at Jaffa in the Oval. “We are increasing our efforts in order to spread the message even further.

This is a gala dinner and celebrity charity auction, with live entertainment, during which meals will be served in an ambience of reduced lighting, to encourage sighted persons to empathise with persons who live their lives in the dark because of visual impairment and blindness,” says Dr Murray.