Conference on Non-Sighted People

The Non-Sighted People: ‘Master, I Want to See’ (Mk 10:51)

INTERNATIONAL STUDY MEETING

Vatican City, 4-5 May 2012
St. Pius X Hall – Via della Conciliazione, 5

FRIDAY 4 MAY

Morning

7.30 Celebration of Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica

9.15 Greetings and Prolusion – H.E. Msgr. Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers and President of the ‘Good Samaritan’ Foundation (the Holy See)

– Presentation of some works from the Diocesan Museum “Francesco Gonzaga” of Mantua (Italy), Msgr. Roberto Brunelli, Director of the Diocesan Museum “Francesco Gonzaga” of Mantua

First session

THE THEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

Moderator: H. Em. Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (the Holy See)

9.45 The Non-sighted Person in Holy Scripture – Prof. Rev. Waldemar Chrostowski, Professor of Biblical Exegesis of the Old Testament at the Cardinal Wyszyn´ski University (Warsaw) and the Nicholas Copernicus University (Torun´, Poland)

10.15 The Historical Concern of the Church for Non-Sighted People – Prof. Rev. Giuseppe Morante, Professor Emeritus on Salesian Pontifical University (Italy)

10.45 BREAK
THE SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK

Moderator: Prof. Enrico Garaci, President of the “Istituto Superiore di Sanità” and the “Consiglio Superiore di Sanità” (Italy)

11.00 Epidemiology: Blindness and Low Vision in the World – Dr. Silvio Paolo Mariotti,Programme for the Prevention of Blindness and Deafness of the World Health Organisation (Switzerland)

11.20 Access to Eye Care and Rehabilitation for People in Developing Countries – Dr. Wing-Kun Tam, President of Lions Clubs International (China)

11.40 The Importance of Protocols and Guidelines in the Fight Against Blindness – Prof. Mario Stirpe, President of the National Commission for the Prevention of Blindness (Italy)

12.00 The Human Resources Development in Low Income Countries and the Brain Drainage – Prof. Serge Resnikoff, Director of the NGO “Organisation pour la Prévention de la Cécité” (France)

12.20 Debate

13.00 End of the Session

Second Session

THE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS AND STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION AND CURE

Moderator: Dr. José María Simon-Tor, Director of Simon Eye Clinic (Spain)

14.00 Degenerative Diseases (Cataract) -Dr. Abdulaziz Al Rajhi, President of the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) (Saudi Arabia)

14.15 Infectious Diseases (Trachoma and Onchocerciasis) – Prof. Allen Foster, Director of the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) (Germany) and Director of the International Center for Eye Health (ICEH) (Great Britain)

14.30 Retinal Diseases (Diabetic Retinopathy, AMD) – Prof. Donald J. D’Amico, Professor and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Weill Cornell Medical College of New York (USA)

14.45 Childhood Blindness (Retinopathy of Prematurity, Avitaminosis A and Congenital Cataract)- Dr. Andrea Molinari, Medical Doctor in Paediatric Ophthalmology at the Metropolitan Hospital of Quito (Ecuador)

15.00 Refractive Errors – Dr. Mario Angi, President CBM Italy Onlus and Aggregate Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosciences, of the University of Padua (Italy)
MODELS OF PREVENTION, CURE AND REHABILITATION

Moderator: Atty. Giuseppe Castronovo, President of International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (Italy)

15.30 Visual Rehabilitation in the World – Prof. Lea Hyvärinen, Senior Lecturer of Developmental Neuropsychology at the University of Helsinki (Finland)

15.45 The National Pole and Models of Visual Rehabilitation in Italy – Prof. Alfredo Reibaldi,Scientific Director of the National Pole of Service of Research for the Prevention of Blindness and Visual Rehabilitation (Italy)
16.00 Rehabilitation on a Community Basis and the Fight Against Blindness – Dr. Martin Kollmann, Regional Coordinator of the Programme for Neglected Tropical Diseases CBM (Kenya)

16.15 Summary – Prof. Emilio Balestrazzi, Director of the Eye Clinic of the “Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico A.Gemelli” (Italy)

16.25 End of the Session
BREAK

17.00 Musical Concert
Introduced by: Hon. Elisabetta Gardini, Member of the European Parliament, member of the Commission for the Environment, Public Health and Food Security (Italy)

Testimony by: Rev. Gerardo Balbi, Parish priest of the Parish of Camporeggiano, Gubbio (Italy)

SATURDAY 5 MAY

Morning

Third Session

ROUND TABLE: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN BIOMEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES
Moderator: Eng. Dino Tabacchi – President of Salmoiraghi & Viganò (Italy)

08.35 Surgical Techniques for Cataract (SICS) – Dr. Sanduk Ruit, Director of the Tilganga Eye Centre (Nepal)

08.45 Technologies for Refraction and Spectacles – Prof. Kovin Naidoo, Director of the International Center for Eyecare Education (South Africa)

08.55 Distance Learning: Cyber-Sight – Prof. Eugene M. Helveston, Orbis International (USA)

09.05 Medical Products Donated for Neglected Tropical Diseases: Trachoma – Ms. Julie Jenson,Director of Corporate Responsibility at Pfizer Inc (USA)

09.15 Onchocerciasis – Dr. Pierluigi Antonelli, Senior VP and Managing Director of MSD Italia Ltd (Italy)

ROUND TABLE: NGOS: PROTAGONISTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS
Moderator: Dr. Gullapalli Nag Rao, President of the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) (India)

09.30 Dr. Allen Foster, Director of the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) (Germany) & Director of the International Center for Eye Health (ICEH) (Great Britain)

09.40 Dr. Caroline Harper, Director of Sight Savers International (Great Britain)

09.50 Dr. Eugene M. Helveston, Orbis International (USA)

10.00 Johannes Trimmel, Director for Program and Policies of “Licht für die Welt” (Austria)

10.10 BREAK

ROUND TABLE: BLINDNESS IN OTHER RELIGIONS
Moderator: Bro. René Stockman, General Superior of the Brothers of Charity (Italy)

10.35 Buddhism: Prof. Wiriya Namsiripongpun, Professor on Thammasart University (Thailand)

10.50 Judaism: Prof. Arnon Afek, Professor on Tel Aviv University (Israel)

11.05 Hinduism: Prof. Mukesh Narayan, Professor on Jeevan Jyoti Institute for the Disabled (India)

11.20 Islam: Prof. Mohamad Ahmad Elsada – Professor on Cairo University (Egypt)

Fourth session

PASTORAL CARE AND ECCLESIAL PROJECTS FOR THE NON-SIGHTED

11.35 Pastoral Care with Non-Sighted People – H.E. Msgr. Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool (United Kingdom)

11.50 Care for Non-Sighted People: Art as a Pastoral Instrument – Msgr. Roberto Brunelli,Director of the Diocesan Museum “Francesco Gonzaga” of Mantua (Italy)

12.05 The Catholic Congregation of the Blind: Charism and Works – Fr. Wilson Kallikkal, CCB,General Superior (India)

12.20 The Non-Sighted Sacramentine Sisters: Charism and Works – Sr. M. Rosa Affinito, Sacramentine Sisters (Italy)

12.35 Debate

13.00 End of the Session
ROUND TABLE: ECCLESIAL COMMITMENT TO THE SERVICE OF THE NON-SIGHTED
Moderator: Mr. Laurent Kibambe Bila, Administrative Director of Promhandicam (Cameroon)

14.05 Information and Requests from Bishops’ Conferences, Msgr. Jean-Marie Mupendawatu,Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (the Holy See)

14.15 Africa
1- Tanzania: H.E. Msgr. Aloysius Balina
Bishop of Shinyanga

2- Rwanda: Bro. Charles Nkubili
Brothers of Charity

14.45 America
1- USA: Fr. John Sheehan, SJ
Chairman of the Board of the Xavier Society for the Blind

2- Brazil: H.E. Msgr. Vilson Dias de Oliveira
Bishop of Limeira

15.15 Asia

1- India: Sr. Irene Gonsalves, SRA
Diocese of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

2- Vietnam: Sr. Anna Le Thi Van Nga
Congregation of Lovers of the Holy Cross

15.45 Europe

1- Poland: Sr. Irena Sikorska
Franciscan Sisters Servants of the Cross

2- Italy: Prof. Francesco Scelzo
President of “Movimento Apostolico Ciechi”

16.15 Oceania

1- Australia: Mr. Tony Wheeler
Chairperson Catholic Health Australia

16.45 BREAK

17.05 Debate
17.20 Message and Recommendations to Bishops’ Conferences – Fr. Augusto Chendi, M.I.,Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (the Holy See)

17.30 Greetings of H.E. Msgr. Zygmunt Zimowski

End of the Proceedings