International Day for People with Visual Impairment is observed on October 8 every year.
The day is a global event initiated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to raise global awareness of visual impairment and eye health issues. International Day for People with Visual Impairment was first proclaimed in 2000, and since then, the second Thursday of October has been set aside each year for this special observance.
The date was chosen to highlight the seriousness of visual health issues and to promote the prevention of blindness and the advancement of eye health on a global scale. The purpose of the International Day for People with Visual Impairment is to increase awareness of the importance of vision preservation, to promote visual health, and to elevate care and support for people with visual impairment.
Significance and Theme of International Day of People with Visual Impairment:
This day of commemoration provides a platform for governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), health care providers, communities and individuals to focus attention on the prevention of blindness-causing diseases, the dissemination of knowledge about eye health, the promotion of eye health measures, and the resolution of blindness worldwide. It provides an opportunity for people around the globe*** to work together to focus on visual health issues, combat blindness and improve the quality of life of the visually impaired.
International Day of People with Visual Impairment has a theme each year that aims to call for action by all sectors of society in the prevention and treatment of visual impairment. Various promotional activities are organized, such as free eye health screening, education and training, seminars, distribution of health promotion materials, etc., so as to draw the attention of the community and promote the formulation and implementation of relevant policies.