Health Initiative Tackles Burden of Vision Impairment for Marginalized Communities

Almost half of global vision loss is preventable or treatable but the need for eye care across the world is spiralling. Without concerted effort, funding and resources, the number of people who are blind could triple by 2050, according to Independent Research Organization Sightsavers. 

In Uganda and Malawi alone, 4.8 million people were estimated to have vision impairment in 2020, but a Sightsavers project in these countries is proving that inclusive eye health for everyone, regardless of gender, age, disability, location, or economic situation, is possible.

With an aim to restore, save and protect sight across rural and high-poverty areas in the South-West Region of Malawi and Karamoja sub-region in Uganda, the 3-year inclusive eye health project began in 2020 and has so far helped over 21,800 people access basic eye health. It particularly focuses on cataracts, the leading cause of avoidable blindness worldwide, and reaching people with disabilities, nomadic pastoralists, communities in hard-to-reach areas, and women and girls, who traditionally face barriers accessing health care.

“Most people will experience eye health issues in their lives but only half the world’s population can access the health services they need," Anthony Wani, Country Director – Uganda, at Sightsavers said in a news release. "Good health and wellbeing is a fundamental human right and access to eye care can create a positive ripple effect, helping children to learn, adults to earn, and reducing poverty and hunger.”

In collaboration with the government, health facilities, and organizations for women’s rights and people with disabilities, the project is improving uptake and access to eye health services for people with disabilities, women and other marginalised groups through initiatives including: 

• Around 21,800 eye examinations
• More than 1,100 cataract surgeries
• Disability and gender inclusion training for around 680 health professionals
• Community-based screenings
• National scholarships for trainee eye surgeons and ophthalmic clinical officers
• Health facility accessibility audits and training
• Community eye health ambassadors
• Contributions to health management information system support

These initiatives will continue throughout the project, providing access to health services including eye examinations and cataract surgeries for even more people.

Thanks to funding from the UK government through UK Aid Match, the project is helping restore sight for individuals like Napelekori, a person with disabilities from Karamoja, Uganda. Due to her disability, Napelekori crawls on the ground to move around and blindness caused by cataracts in both eyes meant she often came across unpleasant and dangerous objects. She became dependent on other people for food, moving around, and collecting her social assistance grant for older citizens.

Napelekori heard about the inclusive eye health project through a local radio campaign and successful cataract surgery has improved her independence. She can now move around safely, socialize, cook, clean, collect her social assistance grant, and is excited that she can see clearly to grow food in the garden. Napelekori is overwhelmed to have her vision back, “I can say, I am alive again.”

“Great strides have been made in raising awareness of the importance of eye health, creating inclusive access to health services, and reducing discrimination towards people with disabilities and marginalised groups," Mr. Wani said. "But continued funding, resource, enhanced health policies, and commitments are needed from government and other partners. Provisions for people with disabilities and from other marginalised groups must be considered in national and community health strategies if we are to reduce the burden of vision impairment and ensure no one is left behind in Malawi and Uganda, and indeed, across the world.”

As the project continues, Sightsavers is working in partnership with both governments to ensure sustainability of eye health services and prioritization of eye care in national health plans far into the future. This includes contributing to an inclusive national eye health plan in Uganda and community health strategy in Malawi, and advocating for integration of eye health services into national health systems.