Receive all the latest news, webinars, updates, events and more right to your inbox.
Background
Despite the availability of this simple, sight-correcting intervention (i.e., spectacles), uncorrected refractive error remains the leading cause of vision impairment in child and adult populations. If left uncorrected, refractive error significantly impacts on well-being and can contribute to poor academic performance in children.
In recognition of the large unmet need for care, coupled with the fact a highly cost–effective intervention exists, WHO Member States endorsed the first-ever global target for refractive error at the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly (2021). Specifically, the global target is a 40-percentage point increase in effective coverage of refractive error (eREC) by 2030.
What is WHO SPECS 2030?
A comprehensive approach is needed to address these many long-standing challenges to increasing the coverage of refractive error services. The WHO SPECS 2030 Initiative calls for coordinated action amongst all stakeholders (public, private, non-profit, and philanthropy) across the following five pillars, in line with the SPECS acronym:
- S: Improve access to refractive Services
- P: Build capacity of Personnel to provide refractive services
- E: Improve population Education
- C: Reduce the Cost of refractive error services
- S: Strengthen Surveillance and research.
Room: IAPB Auditorium