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Thursday, October 10, 2024

SIGHTSAVERS CALLS FOR INCLUSIVE EYE HEALTH ON WORLD SIGHT DAY

After cataract surgery, Utena Gisachi Gidamuygeda from Gehandu village became a local advocate, inspiring her community to seek eye care.


This World Sight Day, Thursday 10 October, international development organisation Sightsavers is calling for better access to eye health services for everyone and an integration of eye health into Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Vision problems do not just affect the elderly, a common misconception. Everyone, at some point, needs support to maintain good eye health to see the board at school, to drive and work, and for independence later in life. Yet eye health is given less priority in healthcare, and people are struggling unnecessarily with avoidable blindness and vision impairment.

Sightsavers Tanzania is marking this day by conducting mass screening, mobile outreaches, school screening and public awareness activities Dodoma, Morogoro and Singida.

Tanzania has made notable strides in improving eye care, particularly in rural areas, through cataract surgery outreach programs and the Inclusive Eye Health (IEH) initiative by Sightsavers and other NGOs. This initiative has integrated eye care into the overall health system, benefiting marginalised groups and expanding services through regional hospitals, mobile clinics, and outreach efforts.

Training programs have boosted the number of eye health professionals and empowered community health workers, while public campaigns and school screenings have raised awareness and improved early diagnosis.

However, challenges persist. Tanzania continues to face high rates of avoidable blindness and visual impairment, with eye diseases ranking among the top ten causes of morbidity (Source: Eye Health system assessment, May 2017).

Additionally, many parents and caregivers are unable to detect eye conditions in children at an early stage while others don’t prioritize seeking eye health services due to conflicting health and financial concerns.

Godwin Kabalika, Country Director Sightsavers Tanzania says that "Two thirds of people don't have access to the glasses they need to see clearly. This applies to children as well as adults. A lack of access also impacts treatment for other eye conditions like cataracts, which a child can be born with.”

Globally, there are 1.1 billion people who have an untreated or preventable visual impairment. Sightsavers in Tanzania is organising cataract surgical camps, addressing refractive error by providing eye screening and supporting system strengthening by providing training to eye health care workers and equipment and infrastructure support address avoidable blindness.

“In Tanzania the numbers are still high. In 2017, blindness in Tanzania was estimated at 2.8%, higher than the global average of 0.48% but lower than the 4.3% average in eastern sub-Saharan regions. This estimate pertains to individuals aged 50 and above, making it higher than the 1% blindness rate in the general population. Among those aged 50 and above, the prevalence of cataracts is estimated to be 6.2%. Sightsavers is working with the Ministry of Health and partners to improve access to quality, affordable eye health services for all,” continues Mr. Kabalika.

Across the world, the avoidable vision issues of cataract and uncorrected refractive errors, such as short-sightedness, are the leading causes of blindness and vision impairment respectively.

Addressing the world’s eye health issues would cost just a sixteenth of the annual global productivity loss due to visual impairment. For example, having the right glasses could help people increase their earnings by a third, in turn boosting the economy. Yet, most people don’t have access to the glasses they need, and children with vision impairment in low- and middle-income countries are up to five times less likely to be in formal education, impacting their future prospects.

The impact of accessing eye health services can be seen in the transformation of people’s lives. One such life is that of 73-year-old Utena, a vibrant woman from Gehandu village in the Manyara region, a neighbouring region to Singida in Tanzania, who had been struggling with blurry vision for many years.

One day, Utena heard about an eye screening camp organised by Singida Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH) through a relative living in Singida. Curious and hopeful, she attended the camp, where she was diagnosed with cataracts and immediately scheduled for surgery. The procedure was a success, and Utena's sight was restored. She felt like a new person, free from the constraints of her vision problems. With a renewed sense of purpose, Utena returned home determined to help others.

Inspired by her experience, Utena has become an ambassador for eye health in her community. She shares her story, encouraging others to have their eyes checked and seek treatment. Her efforts are paying off, and because of her more than 10 people from her village have received treatment. Some underwent surgery like Utena, while others received glasses or treatment for other eye conditions. Utena's community now views her as a hero who has changed their lives.

“Many eye health interventions can be relatively small or straightforward, yet the impact can be life-changing,” Godwin Kabalika.

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