International Day for Disaster Reduction/World Sight Day

Today there is a flood in such and such a place!
Landslide hit this place today!
The earthquake took so many people!
The volcano did this and so many other news related to natural disasters hit headlines year-round.

International day for disaster reduction, 2022 will be a special advocacy to deal with many natural disasters in solidarity.

Every corner of the globe and the entire geography is at risk of various natural disasters. Moreover, human activities, unselective use of natural resources, climate change, etc. have increased the risk of natural disasters.

Background:
Every year, the world community celebrates October 13 as World Natural Disaster Control Day. This day is very important for spreading awareness through various programs, conventions, seminars, etc., and for minimizing the damage. However, meetings and seminars on this day for this year are entirely going digital, from one's home and screens. We can't control natural disasters, we can only minimize the damage by taking precaution and preparedness, can't we? The day was started by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1989 to increase the preparedness and awareness against natural disasters and even today, various media outlets around the world are spreading effective knowledge, skills, and ideas on this subject.

United Nation in Disaster Reduction:
At the same time, the United Nations has a plan to raise awareness in the community, the nation, and the region, to increase access to preparedness, and to make special calls for the protection of victims. Nepal, which is known to the world community for its diverse terrain, climate, and water resources, has also faced many natural calamities from time to time, be it occasional earthquakes or this year's severe floods, landslides, geographically diverse and complex Nepal. The sad thing is that Nepali has inadequate disaster control skills and information, which can lead to additional losses and risks. We have already seen that the earthquake has raised serious questions about the access to mainstream drinking water, health facilities, and basic things, even in the capital Kathmandu.

The condition of the capital easily describes the situation of relatively remote villages. It is even more unfortunate that the Nepali academic curriculum still lacks experimental practices and practical topics for natural disaster control. Even more impractical developmental knowledge, such as the knowledge that staying under a table or inside a house during an earthquake, is the exact opposite of putting one's life in danger and one's life at risk of death. Nepal needs comprehensive and community-friendly disaster risk preparedness messages and practices. If there is a natural disaster on Nepali soil, there is still no minimum preparedness.

It is also unfortunate that a handful of natural disaster control and awareness programs are largely in the hands of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). Probably a factor as to why progress is happening so poorly. Equal participation of both government and non-government is essential in such sensitive issues. Today, it is important for Nepal to understand and embrace all these things with the world community. Let's build natural disaster prevention and resilience structures, let's make the next generation aware of its preparedness.

World Sight Day


World Sight Day, held this year on the second Thursday of October, is an annual event to raise awareness of the importance of good eye care around the globe.

Context:
We know that 2.2. billion people – a quarter of the world’s population – have a visual impairment. And nearly half of this visual impairment could have been prevented, or could still be avoided. Without urgent and sustainable efforts, the number of people who are blind could reach 115 million by 2050. But this isn’t inevitable.

Globally, £300 billion is lost in productivity each year because of visual impairment and blindness. But on average, across all of Sightsavers’ programs in Africa and Asia, it costs just £2 to £4 for a pair of prescription glasses – a simple solution that has been proven to lead to a significant increase in potential earnings. This solution can change someone’s life.
Theme 2022: Everyone counts

If we are to tackle the global eye health crisis, every one counts and everyone has a part to play. What’s yours?
On World Sight Day 2022, you can take action to help raise awareness and support Sightsavers’ work to combat avoidable blindness.
#Loveyoureyes is the theme and digital media trend for world sight day 2022, lets love our eyes and help others love their pair of eyes too.

Suyog Dhakal