The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a roadmap for global development efforts to 2030 and beyond for developed and developing countries to ensure the peace, protection and poverty eradication around the world. The 17 SDGs and 169 targets within, are underpinned by the principle of ‘no one left behind’ in the continued push for poverty eradication and the empowerment of the World’s most vulnerable in both developed and developing countries.
Each of the 193 countries that signed on to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has committed to producing a Voluntary National Review at least twice over the lifetime of the Agenda. The VNR reports on progress against the Goals at the national and sub-national (state, territory and local government) level. The Australian Government will be delivering its first VNR in July 2018 to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York.
Included in Australia’s VNR is a case study highlighting the work being undertaken by the Vision Initiative program funded by the Victorian Government and managed by Vision 2020 Australia. The case study provides an overview of the work Vision Initiative is conducting in Victoria and the meaningful impact this is having on the population.
“People’s experiences of disadvantage, inclusion, well-being and adversity can be very different in different settings and can present a challenge for policy-makers and service providers. Addressing a problem in different settings can require different solutions and different people to solve them, requiring a more holistic, localised approach, rather than a problem-driven approach. For example, in Victoria, the Vision Initiative, managed by Vision 2020 Australia, took a new localised approach to delivering eye health to at-risk areas and populations, contributing to an improved rate of testing. The approach included translation of materials into target community languages, culturally-appropriate resources for Aboriginal communities and building the capacity of primary healthcare providers.”
This snapshot of the work delivered by Vision 2020 Australia demonstrates the transformative nature of eye health and how it can help deliver on the ambitious SDGs. We look forward to continuing the work of the SDGs and provide better access to eye health and care for all.
