Call to recognise eye health as vital part of healthcare and devept

He argues that currently it is inaccessible for some sectors of society and even a luxury for those in urban areas.

Speaking during an interview with this paper, the director noted, "This needs to change. When we tackle these issues, children can learn and adults can earn. Eye health equals a ripple effect on the lives of individuals, families, and communities, helping nations to thrive and reducing poverty and inequality.”

He cited a new lancet Global Health report that has found preventable and sight loss will cost the global economy $ 411 billion in the year 2020 due to lost employment. This figure far outweighs the estimated cost gap of addressing the unmet need of vision impairment estimated at about $25 billion.

The director also acknowledged the fact that governments are working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of United Nations (UN) goals which aim to reduce global poverty and inequality and protect the planet.

They include a target to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), ensuring everyone has access to health services. In 2021, global leaders also unanimously adopted the UN ‘Vision for Everyone’ resolution, which explicitly links eye health to all the SDGs.

To achieve the goals and resolution, inclusive eye health is essential. Unless it is recognised as a vital part of healthcare and development, efforts to achieve the SDGs and UHC will fail.

Indeed, the World Health Organization reported in September that “the world is off track to make significant progress towards universal health coverage” and that improvements to health services coverage have stagnated.

The impact of inclusive eye health can be seen through stories such as Amina Yusuph from Kilosa Morogoro, who had bilateral cataract for two years, she was operated under the Sightsavers and regional partnership eye care outreach program, now she can see well.

Amina shared her experience of having blurred site for two years as dependence, she added that, a person loose freedom and privacy, everything you needs support from other person, therefore, eye services should be available for everyone in need said Amina.

Sightsavers, Ministry of Health and other eye health partners are also marking World Sight Day by creating awareness to the people to love their eyes.

He continued, “We are already working with the government and other partners to improve eye health services and we commend their efforts. But more needs to be done to ensure eye health is represented in health planning, resourcing, and funding. Including people with disabilities, women, and other marginalised groups, community outreach, and a geographically spread workforce, will help reduce disparity of access.”

Sightsavers recently conducted project introduction of its Inclusive Eye Health project (Macho Yangu) in Dodoma and the representative from Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital mentioned that currently in Tanzania there are only at least 84 Ophthalmologists out of the needed 271 , Assistant Medical Officer in Ophthalmologist (AMOOs) are at least 86 out of the needed 564.