Holistic Eye-Care, with Ophthalmology, Optometry & Opticianry at the Core, for Developing Nations, Emerging Economies & the Poor: New Initiatives!

Despite great advances in R&D and Applications in Eye-Care in Advanced Countries, the vast majority of humanity populating the developing world and emerging economies, continues to harbour huge numbers of the blind & those heading for avoidable blindness! In fact, the poor, even in advanced countries, endure similar distress! India, the most populated nation and the world's fastest growing major economy in recent years, with almost 20% of world population, Inexcusably continues for decades to harbour a disproportionate 25% of the world's blind, with a significantly higher % of its citizens already with avoidable blindness or sprinting to it!

Blindness & Avoidable blindness continue to Increase, even accelerate, instead of declining in the developing world despite all attempts so far by International, Regional, Governmental & National Eye Health Organizations like IAPB, WCO, WHO, APCO; National Ministries of Health, Eye-Care Federations, Eye-Hospitals & a plethora of other supposedly involved OR concerned bodies! Several causes can be attributed to these continuing, pathetic, deplorable & unacceptable situations failure to implement any initiative of the much-lauded global Hyderabad resolution of IAPB [Sept-2012]; failure to keep abreast of mod-ern Eye-health curricula & Specialties, Dysfunctional National Organizations, Contradictory and Unhelpful Resolutions of World Health/Eye Health pro-motion bodies, and above all, the very narrow focus of each national organization in Ophthalmology, Optometry, Opticianry, Eye-Care Nursing(OPD) etc. Their continuous, Complacent Sheltering for decades within their own respective cloisters, without any significant Cross- Disciplinary/ Functional/ Domain cooperation or engagement to Educate on, train, promote, and deliver Holistic Eye-Care, with urgency, compounds the folly!

In India a handful of renowned Eye-Hospitals/Organizations, too few and far between, like Lvpei/Blso, Seci/Sco, Shankar Netralaya/Eso, All in South India with some in Maharashtra have made noble, holistic efforts at reform. They are but drops in the ocean! The national eye-care promotion & implementation bodies in countries like India are characterized by lack of ‘ownership’ by their own members, resulting in internal divisiveness, factionalism & splittism! 'Elected' officials strive to perpetuate their own positions, instead of passing the baton to worthy, promising 'youngsters’. Thus Goals & Targets Become Casualties, Inevitably and Rapidly! This paper & presentation delineate, analyze these and other issues of great concern for developing nations And Emerging Economies. International cooperation within them (South-South Cooperation) has now become a paramount priority, without in any way Diluting the importance of overall National/Regional/ International Coordination & Cooperation. Smaller countries, not merely its neighbours, count on India for holistic support to their health-care and eye-heath needs. All the more reason for huge nations like India to set right their own Eye-Care acts a priori, urgently, adopting Mission-Mode, project-based and Task-Force approaches, Instead of the popular yet ineffectual committees that spread the disease of Commititis!

To address these long-standing lacunae systematically, a new, inclusive, Multi-Disciplinary Body for Holistic Eye-Care in India, South Asia, the Middle-East, S.E Asia, Africa, South America and developing countries everywhere plus Emerging/ Transition economies, is warranted, further accentuating need for cooperation, collaboration and coordination with existing national, regional & international organizations as well. Such a body is being promoted by all categories of Eye-Health Professionals, for Harmonious Cooperation, to Effectively, Jointly and collectively Pre-Empt, Prevent & Attack Avoidable Blindness world over. It will specially focus on the poor including the hundreds of millions in poverty today even in the 'developed’ world. Their need for modern eye-care is Stark, urgent & enormous! This new body is being constituted as a 'Sec 8’ Company (a 'zero dividend' co.) under the Indian Companies Act, by a HIGHLY representative & promotional core team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Dispensing-Opticians, Eye-Care Managers, Eye-Care Nurses(OPD),Faculty, Interns, Students, Researchers, Special Educators, Administrators & ALL other Eye-Care Professionals and Practitioners Plus Organizations Eye Hospitals, Clinics, Eye Care Companies, Optical Chains, Stand-Alone outlets, institutions, academia; R&D, Eye- Health & Professional bodies/ Associations For

I. Up gradation of All Eye-Health/Care formal Education in all member-countries.

II. Up gradation of Training ( Thru'cmes, Coes, Workshops, Seminars, Training Courses etc.) in 25+ Modern Specialties & Topics in all member countries.

III. Conducting 12-month Fellowships in 20+MAIN, sub- & Super-Specialties incl. a Novel 4-week internship in candidate's own city & country.

IV. Promoting short Residencies in ALL specialties in Eye Hospitals in ALL main, sub-& Super specialties.

V. Faculty training work-shops & courses in all specialties.

VI. Faculty Upliftment with Opportunities for 100+ Faculty/ Experts (just from India alone!) as Faculty-Facilitators In Cmes/ Coes/Workshops/etc.

VII. All above, with special emphasis on communication & soft-skills for students, trainees & faculty.

VIII. Project Execution Training [with Emphasis on 'Hands-On' Training

IX. R&D and clinical research promotion for holistic eye-care.

X. Concerted Fulfilment of the Unanimous (Global, Iapb!) Hyderabad Resolution of Sept 12 Cmoc & Ielocs, Degree Completion [vide Lateral Entry’] for Diploma (D.Optom) holders; accreditation, rating & ranking of colleges; certification of optometrists!

XI. Exchange programs for faculty, students, researchers & practitioners

XII. Future Eye-Care Leaders Identification & Special Training

XIII. Identification, Rescue, Therapy & Rehabilitation of Innocent children with Partial Vision

XIV. Support For Proper Recognition of Optometry Profession with in Other Nations as well: Already rendered by India to Brazil, Mexico, Italy, etc.

XV. Recognition as Optometry Doctor for those who have completed the 4-year B.Optom course plus certification.

XVI. Multifarious Industry Engagement Membership, Industry- Specific Cmes, Coes, Fellowships, Novel 6-month Opticianry Certificate Course, etc.

XVII. Recognition Of Eye-Care Achievers & Organizations, Nation-Wise in South, Central, S.E Asia, Africa, Central & South America, Polynesia/Melanesia/Micronesia And Across Developing Nations, Emerging & Transition Economies Region-Wise & WorldWide!

XVIII. And, many more initiatives across the developing world, emerging economies &, for the poor, anywhere!

To carry out and succeed in all these ambitious & challenging tasks, the new organization will seek & take cooperation from All Quarters; will not replicate what other bodies may already be doing exceptionally well; will yield & play a supportive role to better organizations/performers in any of #1 to #18 above; rather complement them and yet, carve out a unique, Holistic Eye-Care identity in India, The Developing World, Emerging & Transition Economies, And, Above All, for the poor everywhere!

Each participating nation will select its own representative in the Board/Professional Council of this international body. To start with, an interim board is being constituted & will be announced shortly. Membership categories will include individuals (eye-care professionals) and organizations, both corporate & institutional.