Bangladesh is set to make a strong national commitment to expanding access to quality eye care as the country prepares for the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, with stakeholders calling for increased investment, stronger political commitment, and equitable eye care services to eliminate avoidable vision loss.
The issue was discussed at a consultative meeting on finanlising the Draft Bangladesh Commitment for the summit at the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital (NIO&H) in Dhaka. Government representatives, ophthalmologists, development partners and eye health organisations took part in the discussion.
The consultation was attended by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Chief Executive Peter Holland, IAPB's Southeast Asia Region Head Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota, National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital acting Director Prof Dr ASMM Quadir, Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh (OSB) President Dr Md Tauhidur Rahman and Secretary General Prof Md Zinnu Rain, representatives from WHO, INGO Forum in Eye Health, government agencies, professional bodies, and eye hospital partners.
Speaking at the meeting, Holland described investment in eye care as one of the smartest public investments a country can make.
"Eye care is one of the world's best buys," he said, noting that an investment of US$129 million in eye care between 2026 and 2030 in a country like Bangladesh could generate an estimated US$2.3 billion in annual economic gains in subsequent years.
Holland also highlighted the global burden of poor eye health, saying nearly one billion people in low- and middle-income countries are living with avoidable sight loss.
Improving eye health, he said, is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as good vision contributes to better education, employment, productivity and overall well-being.
Holland was on a two-day visit to Bangladesh to invite the country to become a co-host of the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, which will take place on November 2, 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda.
He informed the meeting that during a meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the head of government agreed that Bangladesh will serve as a co-host of the summit alongside Antigua and Barbuda and he will also participate in the global event.