About this stamp
The World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, commemorates the establishment of the Constitution of the World Health Organization in 1948. This year’s theme, ‘Foresight Prevents Blindness,’ underscores the importance of preventive measures against blindness, a significant public health, social, and economic challenge in India.
With an estimated 45 million people in India suffering from various visual defects, including approximately 9 million blind individuals, of which 5 million can be cured through proper surgical treatment, the issue of blindness is a pressing concern. Additionally, around 250,000 children have lost their sight, primarily due to nutritional deficiencies, injuries, and squints.
Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue, the Central Council of Health has recommended a national plan of action for the prevention of blindness. This plan includes strategies such as:
- Wide dissemination of information about eye care, particularly targeting pre-school children and vulnerable groups.
- Training and orientation of teachers, social workers, and community leaders on eye health care, including nutrition.
- Augmentation of ophthalmic services to provide relief to the community promptly while establishing a permanent infrastructure for community-oriented eye health care.
- Implementing a comprehensive three-tier system covering rural areas through Primary Health Centers and Mobile Ophthalmic Units, with taluk and district hospitals serving as referral centers and establishing specialized eye care centers.
The theme ‘Foresight Prevents Blindness’ symbolizes both ophthalmic and spiritual knowledge, signifying the transition from darkness to light. For teachers, researchers, students, ophthalmic surgeons, and physicians, it represents a call to action to acquire knowledge, remove inner darkness, restore vision, and prevent sight loss, ultimately leading individuals from darkness to light.
In support of World Health Day and the efforts to prevent blindness, the Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a special postage stamp.
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