Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) India and India Vision Institute (IVI) launched a program to provide free access
Essilor Vision Foundation partners with India Vision Institute to bring quality eye care to Chennai’s marginalized communities during COVID-19
Chennai, Tamilnadu – October 01, 2020 – Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) India and India Vision Institute (IVI) launched a program to provide free access to quality eye care services to 3,000 people from marginalized communities in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Jointly implemented by EVF and IVI over a period of three months, the program offers free vision screening to 3,000 people from marginalized communities including auto-rickshaw drivers, fisherfolks and daily wage workers, and free glasses to those who with refractive errors. Many of these beneficiaries live in semi-urban areas with limited access to eye care services.
The screenings will adhere strictly to COVID-19 health and safety protocols with optometrists wearing full personal protective gear and sanitization processes put in place, ensuring the safety of ever yone involved.
According to Essilor’s recently published report, “Eliminating Poor Vision in a Generation”, a roadmap on what it will take to eliminate uncorrected refractive errors by 2050. Unc orrected poor vision is the world’s largest unaddressed disability and a public health cris is today. It affects 1 in 3 or 2.7 billion people, 90% of whom live in developing economies. India has the largest population of people – 0.6 billion – suffering from uncorrected poor vision in the world today.
“Eye conditions, including uncorrected poor vision, is a serious global health issue that won’t improve on its own. That’s why Essilor, together with our dedicated partners like India Vision Institute, will continue to champion eye health and work for the 1 in 3 people who cannot see the world clearly in a socially responsible and safe way during these times of COVID-19,” Milind, Jadhav, Senior Director – Inclusive Business & Philanthropy – South Asia and Trustee of Essilor Vision Foundation India.
“The India government has put out a call in the nation to ensure that essential health services continue to be provided safely to those who require them during the pandemic. We, at India Vision Institute, are heeding the call together with our partners such as Essilor, to provide vision care to everyone, especially those from unde rserved communities because good vision will help children and adults alike to live up to their full potential and become active contributors to India’s growth,“ Vinod Daniel , CEO India Vision Institute.
About Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) India
Essilor Vision Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Essilor International, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company. In order to help address the global issue of uncorrected poor vision that affects about 2.7 billion people around the world, Essilor Vision Foundation through partnership with different state governments and other stakeholders, promotes access to good vision through free screenings and the provision of corrective glasses to communities in need. https://india.essilorvisionfoundation.org/
About India Vision Institute (IVI)
India Vision Institute is an independent, not-for-profit registered trust (with section 12A, 80G and FCRA of IT Act clearance) established in India in 2012. Initiated to advance Optometry, through our extensive activities and programs, including vision screenings across India’s far corners, we have made a mark with many achievements. Our approach to advance Indian Optometry has been through awareness generation, capacity building, leaders hip development, and promoting the research culture. For prevention of avoidable blindness, IVI has worked through timely intervention in providing access to vision screenings and provision of free spectacles in disad vantaged communities and remote areas. Our Eye See & I Learn and Eye See & I Work campaigns reach out to these key constituencies where services are lacking and most required – notably children and adults. (www.indiavisioninstitute.org )
