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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 • O P T O M E T R I C M A N A G E M E N T . C O M S 19 Presidential Decree was signed modifying Article 79 of the Health Act to include Optometry among the health pro- fessions requiring a University degree to be practiced. Op- tometry Giving Sight and the World Council of Optometry worked with AMFECCO, the Mexican association of schools and associations of optometry, and key industry leaders to help facilitate this important outcome. We are currently supporting eforts to have Optometry recognized in India, through the important work being un- dertaken by the Indian Optometry Federation and the Op- tometry Council of India. Te recent passing of our founding Chairman, Professor Brien Holden, has been a great shock for all of us at Optom- etry Giving Sight. Brien was a great visionary, and inspir- ing leader, who was instrumental in establishing Optom- etry Giving Sight as a way of ensuring that the Optometric community would be at the forefront of global eforts to eliminate refractive error blindness and impaired vision. His passing has reminded us all what an incredible contribu- tion he made to this world, and how important it is for us to continue our eforts to ensure that all people have access to the vision care they need. We are incredibly proud to have known and worked with Brien. He has lef a huge legacy, which will continue to inspire us for years to come. We also acknowledge the great support that we receive from our many donors, Global sponsors including CooperVision, national sponsors, network and media partners. Teir trust, fnancial support and partnership have been critical to our de- velopment to date, and to what we hope to achieve over the next 10 years S P O N S O R E D B Y O P T O M E T R Y G I V I N G S I G H T OPTOME TRIC MANAGEMENT CORPORATE PROFILE Vietnam School of Optometry: History was made in Vietnam last year with the introduction of the very frst optometry course, launched on 29 October at the Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine (PNTU), Ho Chi Minh City. The late Professor Brien Holden is pictured here at the opening with 2 of the frst intake of 18 students. We See Project, Soweto South Africa: VSP Global, Nike, the Brien Holden Vision Institute and Optometry Giving Sight are collaborating on a 3-year project to support the Department of Education and Department of Health to provide eye health services to an estimated 30,000 children in Soweto and re- duce the percentage of school children with uncorrected visual impairment by 90%; and improve the quality of the children's lives and educational performance. The project was launched in Soweto on 10 April 2014. Mexico MOU Signing: Optometry Giving Sight recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Benito Juarez Autono- mous University of Oaxaca (UABJO), the Government of Oax- aca, Brien Holden Vision Institute and World Council of Op- tometry to establish the frst school of Optometry in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. The signing took place at the World Congress in Medellin, Colombia on Thursday 13 August. Our hope is that the School will welcome the frst students in 2016. Haiti School of Optometry : Optometry Giving Sight is part of a coalition of organizations including the Brien Holden Vision Insti- tute and VOSH International who are seeking to contribute to the reconstruction of Haiti through the establishment of a School of Optometry at the Université d'État d'Haïti (Haiti University). With the support of Vision Source, Essilor Canada and others, Optometry Giving Sight hopes to soon have raised enough mon- ey to be able to welcome the frst student in 2016.