Control and prevention of blindness and deafness | Events and meetings | The regional planning workshop on the implementation of VISION 2020 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt, 14–17 December 2003

The regional planning workshop on the implementation of VISION 2020 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt, 14–17 December 2003

Print PDF

In order to enhance the current prevention of blindness activities in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, a VISION 2020 regional planning workshop was held at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt, from 14 to 17 December 2003.

Report

Statistics and figures

  • Over 23 million people are visually impaired in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, of whom 5 million people are blind
  • 80% of blindness is avoidable (treatable and/or preventable)
  • 90% of blind people live in developing countries
  • About 200 000 children are blind