Know The Glow (KTG), represented by Ruth Ngaruiya, Program Manager-Africa, and Pemije Gadimoh, Know The Glow Global Student Volunteer Ambassador, was pleased to participate in the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 4-6 June 2026.
The event brought together eye health professionals, government representatives, non-governmental organizations, researchers, advocates, and industry partners from around the world to discuss progress towards achieving universal eye health and reducing avoidable blindness.
As an IAPB member organization, KTG values opportunities to engage with the wider eye health community and contribute to conversations that shape the future of eye care. Throughout the conference, participants shared experiences, innovations, and strategies aimed at improving access to eye care services and strengthening health systems. Discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing the challenges that continue to prevent millions of people from accessing timely eye care. The event also provided an opportunity to engage with IAPB leadership, including President Caroline Casey and CEO Peter Holland, as well as other members of the IAPB team. Their commitment to advancing the global eye health agenda continues to inspire organizations working across the sector.
One of the most valuable aspects of the conference was the opportunity to connect in person with organizations and colleagues with whom we have collaborated virtually over the years. Many partnerships begin through online meetings, but face-to-face interactions help strengthen relationships, deepen understanding, and create opportunities for future collaboration. The conference also enabled KTG to establish new connections with organizations whose work aligns with our mission of promoting early detection and treatment of childhood eye conditions.
A key takeaway from the conference was the need to ensure that children’s eye health remains an important part of global eye health discussions. While significant efforts are being made to address avoidable blindness and vision impairment, childhood eye diseases often receive less attention despite the lifelong impact they can have on children and their families. Conditions such as retinoblastoma, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), congenital cataract, and Coats disease can lead to severe vision loss or other serious consequences if they are not identified and treated early.
At Know The Glow, we continue to advocate for greater awareness of these conditions and the importance of early detection.
As KTG continues its work across Africa and beyond, we remain committed to collaborating with governments, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and partner organizations to increase awareness of childhood eye conditions and strengthen pathways to care. The conversations and connections made during IAPB 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE highlighted the power of partnership and the importance of ensuring that pediatric eye health is included in broader eye health initiatives.
We thank IAPB for hosting a successful and inspiring conference in Nairobi and for creating a platform that brings together stakeholders from across the eye health sector. We look forward to building on the relationships strengthened during the event and continuing our collective efforts to ensure that more children are diagnosed early, treated promptly, and given the opportunity to thrive.
