CBM wins prestigious António Champalimaud Vision Award

CBM has been announced as joint winner of the prestigious António Champalimaud Vision Award, together with Sightsavers. The award recognizes outstanding contribution towards the prevention and alleviation of blindness and visual impairment in developing countries. 

Kirsty Smith, Chief Executive of CBM UK, said: “We’re honoured to receive this award, which is testament to the tireless efforts of our experts and partners around the world and the amazing generosity of our supporters who enable our work to happen. But there’s still a huge way to go to end the vicious cycle of poverty and disability. Together, we’re determined to build a world where nobody is needlessly blind and every person with a disability has the chance to fulfil their God-given potential”.

39 million people worldwide are blind, with most living in low and middle income countries. 80% of blindness is avoidable. Both CBM and Sightsavers have worked tirelessly for decades to treat the leading causes of preventable blindness and support those living with limited or no vision in some of the poorest countries in the world. Both are recognised as pioneers in the field and were the creators of a model to combat visual impairment based around three pillars: prevention, cure and support.

Dr Babar Qureshi, CBM’s Director for Inclusive Eye Health, and Massimo Maggio, CEO CBM Italy and Member of the CBM International Leadership Team, were present to accept the award on behalf of CBM at a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on 5th September.

About the António Champalimaud Vision Award

The António Champalimaud Vision Award was launched in 2006 and is supported by the World Health Organisation’s ‘Vision 2020 – The Right to Sight’ programme. Winners share an award of 1 million Euros. In odd-numbered years, the award recognises work on the ground to prevent blindness and vision disorders, mainly in developing countries. In even-numbered years, the award goes to far-reaching scientific research in the area of vision.

In 2016, CBM carried out 433,894 sight-restoring cataract surgeries and protected 8.2 million people from blinding diseases. Read more about our work to save sight (open link in new tab).

Image:  Babiwemba during a follow-up visit after undergoing trachoma surgery in Uganda © CBM/Trenchard