Our Bureau
London
The House of Lords will host a landmark global commemoration of the International Day for a World Without Childhood Blindness on January 31, 2026, marking 49 years of transformative, on-ground impact by the Eye Foundation of America (EFA) for children since 1977—largely across India and Africa.
Adding exceptional global gravitas to the occasion, Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, will join the commemoration and deliver a high-level keynote address, underscoring childhood blindness as a critical, solvable development challenge at the intersection of health, education, equity, and economic productivity.
Hosted at the House of Lords, the event brings together senior leaders from the United Nations system, global philanthropy, Rotary and Lions leadership, diplomats, policymakers, clinicians, CSR heads, and youth champions—united by a shared commitment to end preventable childhood blindness worldwide.
Mr. Chatterjee’s address will highlight the urgency of integrated public health action, scalable partnerships, and outcomes-driven investment—calling for governments, multilaterals, and the private sector to accelerate proven models that protect sight early in life. His participation reflects the growing global consensus that vision is foundational to learning, human capital formation, and inclusive growth.
For nearly five decades, Eye Foundation of America has led pioneering, community-rooted programs—saving and restoring sight for millions of children through neonatal screening, pediatric eye care, capacity building, and systems strengthening. EFA’s work has demonstrated that early detection and timely intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life—and a nation’s future.
The January 31 commemoration also reinforces a global call to action: institutionalize childhood blindness prevention within national health systems and CSR frameworks, and rally the world toward a future where no child is needlessly blind.
About the International Day for a World Without Childhood Blindness
Observed on January 31, the Day mobilizes governments, multilaterals, civil society, and the private sector to advance solutions that eliminate preventable childhood blindness and secure every child’s right to sight.
On the occasion of this historic event, Siddharth Chatterjee said, “A world without childhood blindness is not an aspiration—it is an achievable global development goal. When we protect a child’s sight, we protect education, dignity, and the future of nations.”
Distinguished Global Presence
The commemoration at the House of Lords will also witness the presence of senior leaders and representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat, Lions Clubs International, and Rotary International, reinforcing a powerful, cross-continental coalition committed to eliminating preventable childhood blindness worldwide.
