Belize Council for the Visually Impaired hosts an Open Day in commemoration of World Sight Day 2009

Belize City, Belize, October 5th, 2009: The Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI) and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) in Belize are teaming up to promote World Sight Day, Thursday 8 October.  The theme this year is “Gender and Eye Health: Equal Access to Care”. Studies consistently indicate that females have a significantly higher risk of being visually impaired than males, in every region of the world, and at all ages; nearly two-thirds of blind people worldwide are women and girls.
BCVI is inviting all Belizeans, especially women and girls, to an Open Day at the National Eye Clinic (NEC) on Princess Margaret Drive next to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) from 9am until 4pm. There will be displays of services as well as free examinations provided by BCVI. Guests can receive free eye testing, discounted glasses, and commemorate the global initiative (plant a tree in honor of World Sight Day) by planting a garden on the grounds.