WHO Re-Designates City-Based Eye Institute as Collaborating

The World Health Organization (WHO) has re-designated city-based L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) as a WHO Collaborating Center for Prevention of Blindness for a further period of 4 years, the hospital said. LVPEI is the only healthcare institution with this status in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and one of the only eight centers around the world in the area of prevention of blindness, a press release said. L V Prasad Eye Institute, Founder Chair and Head of the WHO Collaborating Center, Dr Gullapalli N Rao said, “this two-way relationship between WHO and LVPEI continues to help us make a difference to public health globally. We are extremely honored to be in this journey with WHO for another 4 years.”

The collaborating Centers cooperate with WHO on a diverse range of activities such as strengthening eye health workforces, generating data on the magnitude and causes of visual impairment, advocating greater political and financial commitment to eye care, developing and implementing national eye health policies, plans and programs, the release said. The centers also gain opportunities to work together like sharing objectives, exchanging information, pooling resources and developing technical co-operation, particularly at the international level, it said. Established in 1987, the institute has served over 26.04 million people, over 50 percent of them entirely free of cost, irrespective of the complexity of care needed, the release added. – Business Standard