Sunday 17th October
Sightsavers is asking churches across the UK to join together in worship to mark World Sight Day. Special services on Sunday 17 October will focus prayers on people who are blind or visually impaired in some of the poorest countries in the world.
This year special focus will be placed on women and blindness as various cultural, social and economic barriers often lead to women and girls becoming the last in line to receive appropriate medical treatments.
For example:
- Out of the 45 million people affected by blindness worldwide, two out of every three of those people are women.
- Over 20 million women worldwide are needlessly blind
- Women tend to be last in line for medical care in the developing world.
Sightsavers Sunday will give churches the chance to discuss the wider issues around disability, including gender. Women and girls who are blind or visually impaired are often marginalised within their own communities because of their disability and gender, leaving them vulnerable to isolation and social exclusion.
Diane Louise Jordan, presenter of BBC Songs of Praise, supports Sightsavers Sunday but has been stunned by the facts surrounding women and blindness in developing countries: “I was shocked to discover that there are twice as many women in the world who are blind as men, the majority of whom live in developing countries. There are more than 20 million women and girls who are needlessly living a life in darkness, often experiencing multiple discriminations because of their gender and their disability. It is for these reasons that Sightsavers Sunday is an important day, providing us with an opportunity to draw attention to and consider these shocking statistics, and to reflect on how precious the gift of sight truly is.”
A themed Sightsavers Sunday pack, for 17 October, which includes suggestions for appropriate songs, readings and activities, and a DVD, can be obtained by contacting Russell Richards on 01275 349881 or rrichards@sightsavers.org. You can also download resources from www.sightsavers.org/sightsaverssunday
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