NEWS RESEASE
OTTAWA, May 1st, 2014 –The Honourable Dr. Asha Seth launched the first-ever National Vision Health Month with the unanimous support of her colleagues. A united Senate joined Senator Seth in her campaign to recognize May as a month to educate Canadians about their vision health and help eliminate avoidable sight loss across the country.
National Vision Health Month will be observed every May to encourage practices that save sight and that can help prevent vision loss for thousands of vulnerable Canadians. The campaign will also allow parliamentarians, non-profit organizations, educators and stakeholders to organize around the month of May to inform Canadians on well-established methods of eye-disease prevention and the latest technological advances in this field.
Senator Seth spoke passionately of vision health, “Educating Canadians about their vision health and simple vision loss prevention strategies and services will go a long way toward eliminating vision loss in this country […] My hope is that this campaign will help us build awareness each year as we work together towards educating all Canadians from coast to coast on the importance of maintaining vision.”
“I applaud Senator Seth for her great work and bringing more attention to vision health,” said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health. “National Vision Health Month will help bring awareness and remind Canadians about the importance of eye-disease prevention.”
The Honourable Dr. Noël Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate of Canada, was in attendance to recognize the significance of the campaign and underscored Senator Seth’s leadership in bringing more light to an issue that needs more illumination.
Statements delivered in both the Senate Chamber and House of Commons marked the occasion.
MP Brad Butt eloquently remarked in the House of Commons, “I am delighted that we are marking the first National Vision Health Month in Canada this May and reminding Canadians about the importance of vision health as well as supporting those with vision impairments. I want to thank Senator Seth for spearheading this initiative and groups like the CNIB for their active leadership and support.”
John Rafferty, the President and CEO of the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), was present with a message of support, “National Vision Health Month will help empower Canadians with the knowledge they need to take the required steps to healthy vision for life. CNIB is forever grateful to the Honourable Senator Asha Seth for her work as a strong advocate of vision health.”
CNIB is a charity passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in everyday life.
“Educating Canadians about their vision health and easy vision loss prevention strategies and services will go a long way toward eliminating vision loss in this country. That’s what I hope to do with this campaign, each time we are come together to discuss this issue I know a seed is planted in your mind. National Vision Health Month lives in all of you, it belongs to all Canadians to share and grow every May from today on,” concluded Senator Seth.
The National Vision Health Month campaign will continue throughout the month of May.
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MEDIA
- CNIB News Release, “Official Recognition granted for National Vision Health Month” click here
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May 1, 2014. “Parliament Hill Preview: May day marked by celebrations, protests” CTV News click here
- May 1, 2014 “Today on the Hill” The Vancouver Sun click here
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SPEECH
Senator Asha Seth addresses the reception for launch of the 1st National Vision Health Month
Senator Asha Seth co-hosts a reception with the Honourable Speaker Noel Kinsella in honour of the Canadian National Institute of the Blind and the 1st National Vision Health Month
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PHOTOS
