Zimbabwe has launched its new National Eye Health Strategy to quell the growing burden of eye diseases in the country.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
Speaking at the official launch at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Wednesday, Vice President and Health and Child Care Minister Dr Constantino Chiwenga said this strategy for the period 2021 to 2025 comes at a time when the country is aiming to provide accessible, timely and quality eye services to all, in need of care in Zimbabwe.
In addition, my Ministry is calling for additional investments required to tackle the emerging challenge of non-communicable diseases, which include eye conditions. To that effect, the current National Health Strategy (2021-2025) has ensured that both communicable and non-communicable diseases receive the necessary attention they deserve,” VP Chiwenga said.
VP Chiwenga also said the last strategy for the period 2014 to 2018.
“The National Eye Health Strategy has been developed at an opportune time, when the Ministry of Health and Child Care has undergone a restructuring exercise to enhance efficiency in the health sector. “In Zimbabwe, the causes of blindness according to the Zimbabwe National Eve Health Strategy (2014 to 2018) are congenital cataracts, glaucoma, eye trauma, measles and retinoblastoma,” he said.
He said the strategy they launched is coming in to address the burden of eye conditions.
“The strategy’s main objective is to direct Zimbabwe’s government in eliminating preventable blindness by providing all citizens with sustainable eye care delivery services that are promotional, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative.
“To achieve this, the government, its development partners and the populace must understand that preventing and controlling blindness are not optional actions, but rather essential to ensuring everyone in the nation has access to good health and wellbeing for the sake of the common good in national development,” said VP Chiwenga.
VP Chiwenga added, “In Zimbabwe, the burden of eye diseases is huge and dire, and this is confirmed by Rapid Assessments of Avoidable Blindness conducted in Manicaland in 2016 and Masvingo as well Matabeleland South in 2019. It is also estimated that 8 000 children below Sixteen years of age have childhood blindness due to congenital cataracts and glaucoma, eye injuries, measles and retinoblastoma.
“Research has reported a strong correlation between the prevalence of childhood blindness and under five mortality rates. Based on an under-five mortality rate of Eighty to One Hundred out of One Thousand live births, childhood blindness is estimated to be Seven out of Ten Thousand in Zimbabwe.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe Country Director Dr Alex Gasasira commended the country for coming up with this strategy which addresses recommendations made to member states on integrated people-centered eye care by a resolution of the World Health Assembly in August 2020.
“It is most commendable that Zimbabwe has translated commitments made at global level into concrete action at country level within a relatively short time. I would like to congratulate the Ministry of Health and Child Care for this laudable achievement.
“As we have heard, this strategy promotes access to quality, integrated patient centered services for all, including the most vulnerable groups in society. Most causes of vision impairment can be prevented, or their effects corrected through early detection and timely management at the primary health care level. It is therefore most appropriate that this strategy focuses on strengthening the integration of primary eye care into the primary health care system,” he said.
Said Dr Gasasira, “Eye health interventions at primary health care level should be complemented by interventions at higher levels of the health system. Earlier this year, WHO released a publication entitled “Package of Eye Care interventions”. This could be a useful reference document as MOHCC and partners prepare operational plans for the implementation of this strategy.”
He applauded those who worked on this strategy including MOHCC staff, members of the National Prevention of Blindness Committee, partners and stakeholders.
