Blindness given election aid focus
MEDIA RELEASE
23 October, 2007
The Fred Hollows Foundation welcomed today's announcement by the Federal Government of $60 million over 10 years to fund aid programs to prevent blindness and assist people with a disability in South-East Asia and the Pacific.
Brian Doolan, The Fred Hollows Foundation's CEO, said the commitment showed both sides of politics had realised the importance of ending avoidable blindness in the region.
On 11 October the Federal Opposition announced it would provide $45 million over two years for a plan to overcome blindness in the region.
"Seventy-five percent of blindness can be treated or prevented. We know how to fix it but we need the dollar commitment to make it happen," said Doolan.
"Both sides of politics have put their hand up and said this is something we can fix. The Fred Hollows Foundation welcomes the bi-partisan approach to ensuring thousands of people in our region are given back the gift of sight," said Doolan.
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For interviews or more information contact:
The Fred Hollows Foundation:
Joe Boughton-Dent
Ph: (02) 8741 1928 or 0401 650 440
Email: jboughtondent@hollows.org