University of Campinas (Unicamp) Ophthalmology Service won the António Champalimaud Vision Award 2019 for its performance in the fight against blindness. The award – considered the ophthalmology Nobel – is awarded annually by the Portuguese institution, which carries the same name. The delivery of the one million euros prize was done Wednesday (4) by Portugal president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Unicamp was awarded alongside two other Brazilian institutions: IPEPO Vision Institution and the Altino Ventura Foundation.

According to the Champalimaud Foundation, the Unicamp Ophthalmology Service started a revolution in the South American ophthalmologic treatment in the 80’s, with the continent cataract free zone project. “The work of these organizations brought light to millions of people without access to medical care”, wrote the institution as they selected the three awarded institutions.

“This award important for Unicamp, once it will give us more visibility to ask for federal, state, municipal and political support. Furthermore, we will use the resource for the expansion of the ophthalmology area in our Clinical Hospital”, said doctor Carlos Eduardo Leite Arieta, chief of the Division of Ophthalmology of School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of Unicamp, in an interview conceded to Portugal’s JN.

Unicamp TV recorded a video about the Unicamp Ophthalmology Service and highlighted the awarding in the Unicamp Portal. See here the report and video. The Unicamp Clinical Hospital’s website also highlighted the received award. The Hospital’s superintendent doctor Antonio Gonçalves de Oliveira Filho participated in the ceremony, which was held at the Champalimaud Center, in Lisbon. “A historical moment for the Clinical Hospital and Unicamp medicine”, said doctor Oliveira Filho. See here the news published by the Unicamp Hospital and more photos of the awarding ceremony.

Read more (in Portuguese):

https://www.hc.unicamp.br/node/1243

https://portugaldigital.com.br/tres-instituicoes-brasileiras-distinguidas-com-premio-champalimaud-de-visao/

https://www.cmjornal.pt/sociedade/detalhe/tres-instituicoes-brasileiras-de-combate-a-cegueira-recebem-premio-champalimaud-de-visao

https://www.publico.pt/2019/09/04/ciencia/noticia/premio-champalimaud-instituicoes-tratam-visao-milhoes-brasileiros-1885520

https://www.jn.pt/nacional/interior/combate-a-cegueira-no-brasil-vence-premio-champalimaud-11268716.html

https://www.fchampalimaud.org/noticias/single/noticia-42

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv3GE1tqHsE