Antigua and Barbuda has joined governments and international partners in advancing a renewed global commitment to eye health, as the Global Eye Summit concluded today at the Sir John E. St. Luce Conference Centre.
Delivering the closing remarks, Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, Michael Joseph, highlighted the significant commitments made during the Summit, describing the outcome as an important step in translating global ambition into meaningful action.
The Minister reported that 57 government commitments had been made, with governments pledging more than US$1.23 billion in domestic resources towards eye health. He noted that the commitments demonstrate a growing emphasis on sustainable, nationally led financing and reducing dependence on external support.
Among the key outcomes, 29 governments committed to prioritising child eye health through expanded school-based vision screening, early detection and improved access to affordable glasses. These efforts are supported by eight private-sector partners and 53 civil society organisations. UNICEF also committed to supporting 25 countries and screening 90 million children.
A further 42 governments committed to widening access to glasses, including through the World Health Organization’s SPECS initiative, improved regulation and the removal of tariffs and taxes to make glasses more affordable for families.
The Summit also saw regional commitments from CARICOM and 18 Pacific Island countries. Minister Joseph underscored the importance of collective action, particularly for small island developing states and geographically dispersed health systems, in overcoming barriers to equitable access to eye care.
Another significant development was the launch of SEE 2045 by the World Health Organization, establishing a global elimination target for cataracts. The initiative marks a major milestone, making cataract only the second noncommunicable disease in the WHO’s history to receive a global elimination target.
Antigua and Barbuda was recognised as one of the first countries to participate in this global effort, alongside Bangladesh, China, Kenya and Nigeria.
A major outcome of the Summit was the adoption of the St. John’s Global Compact for Eye Health, which brings together the commitments made by governments and partners under a shared framework for action, investment and accountability.
The Minister disclosed that the Compact had received endorsements from 187 stakeholders at the time of the closing session. He noted that it would remain open to additional governments and organisations wishing to endorse it beyond the Summit.
He further acknowledged the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) for its work as Secretariat of the Summit, calling on the organisation to continue bringing governments and partners together to ensure that the commitments made translate into tangible improvements in eye health.
Declaring the Compact adopted, Minister Joseph emphasised that the work ahead must now focus on implementation.
“The commitments have been made and the Compact adopted. Now, let us all, together, go and deliver on the promises we have made in St. John’s,” the Minister said.
The Global Summit for Eye Health was hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in technical collaboration with the World Health Organization, bringing together government leaders, international organisations, development partners, civil society and private-sector representatives to advance a shared global agenda for eye health.
The Global Summit for Eye Health was hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, alongside the Governments of Bangladesh, Guyana, Ireland and Nigeria, which served as co-hosts and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). The summit reinforced the importance of international cooperation in advancing eye health, strengthening health systems and expanding access to quality eye care, while reaffirming a shared commitment to integrating eye health into universal health coverage.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Joins Global Leaders in Advancing Commitments to Eye Health as Global Eye Summit Concludes.