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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 06, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 26

                               Dr. Vara Prasad Reddy Speaks

                 at House of Lords on International Day

             for a World Without Childhood Blindness

            OUR BUREAU
            London

               n a powerful convergence of pub-
               lic health leadership, philanthro-
            Ipy, and global policy advocacy,
            Padma Bhushan Dr. Vara Prasad
            Reddy, Chairman of Shantha Bio-
            technics and one of India’s most re-
            spected biotech pioneers, will join
            and address distinguished stakehold-
            ers at the House of Lords, UK Par-
            liament, during the commemoration
            of the International Day for a World
            Without Childhood Blindness (IDW-
            WCB) on 31 January 2026.
                The high-level commemora-
            tion  marks  49  years  of  sustained,
            on-ground work by the Eye Founda-
            tion  of  America  (EFA)  since  1977,
            dedicated to preventing avoidable
            childhood   blindness—particularly
            among the most vulnerable children
            across India, Africa, and low-re-
            source settings globally. The event
            brings together Rotarians, Lions
            leaders, parliamentarians, diplomats,
            policy advocates, CSR leaders, glob-
            al health experts, and international   health interventions.        impact—transforming not only indi-  sage that investments in childhood
            media, united by a shared mission:        “A child’s ability to see is di-  vidual lives but also families, school   blindness prevention yield exception-
            to ensure that no child is denied edu-  rectly linked to their ability to learn,   systems, and national productivity.   al social returns, with lifelong bene-
            cation, opportunity, or dignity due to   grow, and contribute to society. In-  Policymakers and parliamentari-  fits  in  education  outcomes,  work-
            preventable vision loss.          vesting in childhood eye care is not   ans attending the event will engage   force participation, and economic
                Dr. Reddy’s participation un-  charity—it is nation-building, human   in dialogue on how preventive eye   resilience.
            derscores the critical role of science,   capital development, and a moral   health can be integrated into nation-      “When science, policy, and
            innovation, and ethical leadership in   imperative,”  Dr.  Reddy  is expected   al health systems, school health pro-  compassion work together, we don’t
            addressing  global  health  inequities.   to note.                  grams, CSR mandates, and universal   just cure disease—we unlock human
            As the visionary behind Shantha Bio-  The International Day for a   health coverage frameworks.       potential,” Dr. Reddy has often em-
            technics—renowned for transform-  World Without Childhood Blind-        Rotary  and   Lions  leaders  phasized in his public life.
            ing vaccine affordability and access   ness, commemorated annually on   from multiple countries will share   The commemoration at the
            for millions—Dr. Reddy has long ex-  January 31, traces its origins to the   field-level  insights  on  how  commu-  House  of  Lords  will  conclude  with
            emplified how public-interest science   first eye camp conducted by Dr. V.K.   nity-driven service models, com-  a renewed global call to action—
            can become a force for social justice.  Raju in Vijayawada in 1977—an ef-  bined with medical excellence, have   urging governments, international
                Speaking at the House of Lords,   fort that evolved into a global move-  enabled large-scale screening, early   agencies, corporates, and civil society
            Dr. Reddy is expected to highlight   ment supported by Eye Foundation   intervention, and treatment for mil-  to recognize childhood eye care as
            the urgent but solvable crisis of   of America, Rotary, Lions Clubs,   lions of children. The event will also   a global priority and to work collec-
            childhood blindness, stressing that   governments, and international part-  acknowledge the role of philanthrop-  tively toward a future where no child
            over  90%  of  childhood  vision  im-  ners. Today, the movement aligns   ic leadership and matching-donation   goes blind for lack of timely care.
            pairment is preventable or treatable   closely with the UN Sustainable De-  models in accelerating impact, par-  As  the  world  approaches  the
            if addressed early. His address will   velopment Goals, particularly SDG 3   ticularly in neonatal and pediatric   50th year of this movement in 2027,
            emphasize the need for policy-driven   (Good Health and Well-Being) and   eye care programs such as Retinop-  the presence of leaders such as Pad-
            scale, sustainable financing, and pub-  SDG 4 (Quality Education).  athy of Prematurity (ROP).        ma Bhushan Dr. Vara Prasad Reddy
            lic-private collaboration, position-  The House of Lords commem-        Dr. Reddy’s address is expected   reinforces a powerful truth: a world
            ing childhood eye care as one of the   oration will spotlight how childhood   to resonate strongly with CSR and   without childhood blindness is not an
            highest-impact, lowest-cost global   eye care delivers intergenerational   industry leaders, reinforcing the mes-  aspiration—it is an achievable goal.

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