Our Bureau
London
In a powerful convergence of public health leadership, philanthropy, and global policy advocacy, Padma Bhushan Dr. Vara Prasad Reddy, Chairman of Shantha Biotechnics and one of India’s most respected biotech pioneers, will join and address distinguished stakeholders at the House of Lords, UK Parliament, during the commemoration of the International Day for a World Without Childhood Blindness (IDWWCB) on 31 January 2026.
The high-level commemoration marks 49 years of sustained, on-ground work by the Eye Foundation of America (EFA) since 1977, dedicated to preventing avoidable childhood blindness—particularly among the most vulnerable children across India, Africa, and low-resource settings globally. The event brings together Rotarians, Lions leaders, parliamentarians, diplomats, policy advocates, CSR leaders, global health experts, and international media, united by a shared mission: to ensure that no child is denied education, opportunity, or dignity due to preventable vision loss.
Dr. Reddy’s participation underscores the critical role of science, innovation, and ethical leadership in addressing global health inequities. As the visionary behind Shantha Biotechnics—renowned for transforming vaccine affordability and access for millions—Dr. Reddy has long exemplified how public-interest science can become a force for social justice.
Speaking at the House of Lords, Dr. Reddy is expected to highlight the urgent but solvable crisis of childhood blindness, stressing that over 90% of childhood vision impairment is preventable or treatable if addressed early. His address will emphasize the need for policy-driven scale, sustainable financing, and public-private collaboration, positioning childhood eye care as one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost global health interventions.
“A child’s ability to see is directly linked to their ability to learn, grow, and contribute to society. Investing in childhood eye care is not charity—it is nation-building, human capital development, and a moral imperative,” Dr. Reddy is expected to note.
The International Day for a World Without Childhood Blindness, commemorated annually on January 31, traces its origins to the first eye camp conducted by Dr. V.K. Raju in Vijayawada in 1977—an effort that evolved into a global movement supported by Eye Foundation of America, Rotary, Lions Clubs, governments, and international partners. Today, the movement aligns closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
The House of Lords commemoration will spotlight how childhood eye care delivers intergenerational impact—transforming not only individual lives but also families, school systems, and national productivity. Policymakers and parliamentarians attending the event will engage in dialogue on how preventive eye health can be integrated into national health systems, school health programs, CSR mandates, and universal health coverage frameworks.
Rotary and Lions leaders from multiple countries will share field-level insights on how community-driven service models, combined with medical excellence, have enabled large-scale screening, early intervention, and treatment for millions of children. The event will also acknowledge the role of philanthropic leadership and matching-donation models in accelerating impact, particularly in neonatal and pediatric eye care programs such as Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).
Dr. Reddy’s address is expected to resonate strongly with CSR and industry leaders, reinforcing the message that investments in childhood blindness prevention yield exceptional social returns, with lifelong benefits in education outcomes, workforce participation, and economic resilience.
“When science, policy, and compassion work together, we don’t just cure disease—we unlock human potential,” Dr. Reddy has often emphasized in his public life.
The commemoration at the House of Lords will conclude with a renewed global call to action—urging governments, international agencies, corporates, and civil society to recognize childhood eye care as a global priority and to work collectively toward a future where no child goes blind for lack of timely care.
As the world approaches the 50th year of this movement in 2027, the presence of leaders such as Padma Bhushan Dr. Vara Prasad Reddy reinforces a powerful truth: a world without childhood blindness is not an aspiration—it is an achievable goal.
