‘Global Specs 2030’ Initiative by WHO: UPSC Current Affairs

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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS

Context:

The WHO has launched a global initiative — ‘Global Specs 2030’ — to ensure that everyone has access to affordable eyecare services by 2030.

GLOBAL SPECS 2030

What is the "Global Specs 2030" initiative?

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched 'Global Specs 2030' initiative to ensure that every person worldwide receives access to affordable eye care services by the year 2030.

The initiative focus on the two leading causes of vision loss: uncorrected refractive errors (like needing glasses) and cataracts. All member countries committed to achieve the following by 2030:

Increase in Refractive Error Coverage => Raise the percentage of people who receive proper glasses by 40% points.
Increase in Cataract Surgery Coverage =>Boost the percentage of people receiving cataract surgery by 30% points.

It calls for coordinated global action amongst all stakeholders across 5 strategic pillars, to address the challenges to improving refractive error coverage.

Engagement structure

What steps Indian government taken to promote eye care?

National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) => Conducts regular activities like School Eye Screening Programs to detect vision problems in children early on, and it organizes Cataract Surgery Camps to provide free or subsidized surgeries, especially in rural areas.

The National Blindness & Visual Impairment Survey (2015-19) showed a reduction in blindness prevalence from 1% (2007) to 0.36% (2019).

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) => World's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. It offers health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations, which includes a wide range of eye treatments.

Role of ASHAs and ANMs => Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) are frontline health workers who play a vital role in connecting communities to eye care.

They visit villages, raise awareness about eye health, identify people with eye problems like cataracts, and refer them to the nearest health centers.

Prelims Booster => In 2024, Rajasthan became the first state in India to implement a "Right to Sight" policy, to control blindness and make eye care accessible to all.

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Source: INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements about the 'Global Specs 2030' initiative:

1. It is launched by the World Health Organization (WHO).

2. It targets only adolescent eye health with a focus on myopia.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 2 only

C) Both 1 and 2

D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The WHO has launched 'Global Specs 2030' to ensure that everyone has access to affordable eyecare services by 2030."

Statement 2 is incorrect: The 'Global Specs 2030' initiative is broader, aiming for "affordable eyecare services for all by 2030," not exclusively adolescents or myopia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It is a WHO initiative aiming to make affordable eye care services available to everyone globally by the year 2030.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing concern, especially among adolescents, making it a key area for intervention.

India contributes through national programs like National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) and participation in global initiatives like 'Global Specs 2030'.