Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that Antigua and Barbuda will host the first ever Global Summit for Eye Health on 2 November 2026. Announcing the Summit, Prime Minister Browne also extended the invitation to Heads of Government, ministers and business leaders to St Johns to prioritise eye health.
Speaking from his office in St Johns to a gathering at St James’s Palace in London via video link, Rt Hon Gaston Browne said: “This is not only a profound human challenge – it is an economic one. Because the evidence is clear: Expanding access to vision care could generate hundreds of billions of dollars in economic returns annually. It would create millions of jobs, and unlock substantial gains in education, productivity and wellbeing. Investing in eye health is not charity. It is an investment in inclusive growth, resilience and shared prosperity – particularly for small states like Antigua and Barbuda.”
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, who is Global Ambassador for the IAPB, hosted the reception at St James’s Palace. The event brought together international dignitaries and members of the eye health sector to commemorate the official launch of the Global Summit for Eye Health. Through her work with IAPB, Her Royal Highness has engaged directly with eye health programmes, practitioners and beneficiaries around the world, highlighting the life-changing impact of restoring sight and strengthening health systems.
The Global Summit for Eye Health will drive progress for eye health for all under three pillars: Act, Allocate, Accelerate. Catalysing commitments to integrate eye health into national development plans, increase sustainable financing, and scale proven solutions.
The Global Summit for Eye Health is hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, in technical collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by IAPB. The Summit will serve as a moment of accountability and ambition, challenging leaders to translate commitments into tangible progress for communities around the world.
IAPB CEO Peter Holland and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne stand beside a Global Summit for Eye Health banner, smiling toward the camera.
Dévora Kestel, Director a.i., Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health/NMH of WHO, joined the St James’s Palace event via video link from Geneva, stating: “The agenda of eyecare has gained significant momentum on the global health agenda in recent years, with the adoption of United Nations and World Health Assembly resolutions. The Global Summit on Eye Health provides an opportunity to support the translation of these global commitments into country action.”
Commenting on the Global Summit for Eye Health, Peter Holland, Chief Executive of IAPB said: “Five years on from the UN Resolution on Vision, the Summit will focus on practical commitments that expand access to affordable, quality eye care services and strengthen health systems to meet rising demand.”
Holland continued by saying: “By bringing leaders together in Antigua and Barbuda we hope that countries, businesses and civil society make formal public commitments to take specific actions, allocate resources, or achieve measurable targets in pursuit of our shared goal of ending avoidable sight loss. We hope the Summit will serve as a clear expression of political and organisation will, providing a benchmark for accountability long into the future.”
