Page 28 - The Indian EYE 090426

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 04, 2026 | The Indian Eye 28

The Eye Foundation of America

announces Golden Jubilee Celebration

in New York City

The Eye Foundation of America is planning the celebration of the International Day for a World Without Childhood
Blindness during the Golden Jubilee celebration in NYC to implement Dr. V. K. Raju’s Global Vision for Change

just heal eyes—you unlock a future.”
OUR BUREAU
This guiding principle continues to
New York, NY shape EFA’s integrated approach to
service delivery.
he global burden of childhood
blindness remains a significant Scope, Impact, and Global
Tyet largely preventable public Reach
health challenge. In response to this Over the past five decades, the
urgent issue, the Eye Foundation of Eye Foundation of America has ex-
America (EFA), under the leadership panded its reach to more than 30
of Dr. V. K. Raju has spent five de- countries, delivering comprehensive
cades advancing equitable access to eye care services to underserved
eye care, particularly for underserved communities. The organization has
populations.
screened approximately 2.5 million
patients and performed over 340,000
The organization has an- vision-saving surgeries, including
nounced a landmark event to more than 30,000 procedures for
children.
commemorate both its Golden These interventions have been

Jubilee—50 years of service— Delhi was the venue for the 2025 are born.” This statement encapsu- delivered through a multifaceted
model that combines communi-
event, hosted by the International
lates the broader principle of health
and the International Day for Lions Club. equity that underpins EFA’s global ty-based outreach, surgical care,
a World Without Childhood The International Day: A efforts. education, and training. Eye camps,
mobile clinics, and permanent
Blindness. Scheduled for Jan- Global Call to Action The Visionary Leadership of healthcare facilities have made it pos-
Dr. V. K. Raju
Observed annually on Janu-
uary 29, 2027, at The Rocke- ary 31, the International Day for a Dr. V. K. Raju’s life and career sible to reach populations that other-
wise lack access to specialized care.
feller Foundation in New York, World Without Childhood Blindness exemplify an unwavering commit- EFA’s work extends beyond
the celebration aims to unite commemorates the inception of Dr. ment to service. Born in Andhra treatment to include prevention and
Raju’s mission. More than symbol-
Pradesh, India, and trained in med-
education. Communities are edu-
global leaders, healthcare pro- ic, this observance serves as a call to icine across India, the United King- cated about eye health, injury pre-
fessionals, philanthropists, and action, emphasizing that most child- dom, and the United States, he has vention, and the importance of early
hood blindness is either prevent-
detection. Teachers are trained to
become an internationally recog-
advocates committed to elimi- able or treatable. Despite medical nized expert in corneal and pediatric identify vision problems in children,
nating preventable blindness in advancements, millions of children eye diseases. Currently serving as a enabling timely referrals and inter-
Clinical Professor of Ophthalmolo-
vention.
worldwide remain visually impaired
children. due to inadequate access to timely gy, Dr. Raju has dedicated over 50 The broader social implications
diagnosis and care. years to advancing both clinical ex- of childhood blindness further high-
Centered on the theme “Re- The importance of early inter- cellence and humanitarian outreach. light the urgency of these efforts. Ac-
storing Sight. Transforming Lives. vention is profound. Vision plays a His journey began in 1977 with cording to Dr. Raju, “75% of blind
Building Futures,” the event reflects central role in childhood develop- a single free eye camp in rural India. children never attend school. Blind-
the enduring mission of EFA and its ment, with more than 90% of learning This modest initiative evolved into a ness reduces employability by 50%
Founder-President, Dr. Vadrevu K. and developmental processes depen- global movement, leading to the for- and increases poverty and social isola-
(V. K.) Raju, whose work has shaped dent on sight. Without appropriate mal establishment of the Eye Foun- tion.” These statistics underscore the
global ophthalmology and humani- treatment, childhood blindness can dation of America in 1979. The or- interconnected nature of vision, ed-
tarian healthcare. significantly restrict educational at- ganization was founded on a bold yet ucation, and economic opportunity.
The 49th annual celebration tainment, independence, and future simple vision: to ensure that no child Innovation and Sustainability
of the A World Without Childhood socioeconomic opportunities. becomes blind due to preventable or in Eye Care
Blindness was held at the historic Dr. Leela Raju reinforces the treatable conditions.
House of Lords at the British Par- ethical dimension of this issue, stat- Dr. Raju’s philosophy is succinct- The upcoming New York cele-
liaments in London in 2026, and was ing, “No child should be denied the ly captured in his statement: “When bration will feature a Global Impact
hosted by Lord Rami Ranger. New gift of sight because of where they you restore sight to a child, you don’t Continued on next page... >>

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