The World Health Organisation (WHO) has re-designated L V Prasad Eye Institute as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness for a further period of four years, taking it close to two decades of collaboration.
 

LVPEI is the only health care institution with this status in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and one of the only eight centres around the world in the area of prevention of blindness, a LVPEI statement mentioned on July 24. Accepting his position as Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre, Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Founder Chair, L V Prasad Eye Institute said, “This two-way relationship between WHO and LVPEI continues to help us make a difference to public health globally. This recognition supports us in our mission to provide equitable and efficient eye care to all sections of society. We are extremely honoured to be in this journey with WHO for another four years. With the support of the network, we will strive to achieve our goals,” Dr Rao said.

WHO Collaborating Centres co-operate 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 programmes. The collaboration brings benefits to both parties. WHO gains access to top institutions worldwide and the institutional capacity to support its work.

Similarly, an institution designated as WHO Collaborating Centre gains increased visibility and recognition by national authorities, and greater attention from the public for the health issues on which they work. The centres also gain opportunities to work together (e.g. sharing objectives, exchanging information, pooling resources and developing technical co-operation), particularly at the international level and opportunities to mobilize additional and sometimes important resources from funding partners. As a Collaborating Centre, LVPEI is expected to implement the agreed WHO workplan in a timely manner, and to the highest possible standard of quality. The progress of the workplan must be updated on a yearly basis, the statement added.