Sightsavers has called on governments in Africa and their development partners to focus more on the importance of eye care.
The international non-governmental organisation (INGO), Development Diaries understands, recently launched a ‘manifesto for change’, which is under its ‘Eye Health Equals’ campaign.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts.
In a report on its website, the global health body noted that visual impairment is a significant health problem in Africa, with about 26.3 million people affected.
Many eye conditions that impact the global eye health crisis include trachoma, cataracts, refractive error, and glaucoma.
It is understood that the majority of people with vision impairment and blindness are over the age of 50 years; however, vision loss can affect people of all ages.
Sightsavers, in a statement to this news platform, said good eye health has a ripple effect on society, as it improves education, well-being, economics, and health outcomes.
‘Eye health equals opportunity, allowing children to learn and adults to earn. It equals improved well-being: supporting families, communities, and nations to thrive’, the statement quoted its Eye Health Deputy Technical Director, Sumrana Yasmin, as saying.
‘Governments and other organisations are showing commitment to reducing the burden of vision impairment, but we cannot afford to be complacent. We hope our manifesto sets out what still needs to happen to avoid the growing eye health crisis’.
Data from the organisation shows that across the world, the number of people in need of eye care is growing.
At least 2.2 billion people have a visual impairment but nearly half of that is preventable or treatable. Only half the world’s population can access the health services they need, and it is estimated that the global productivity loss of visual impairment and blindness is £343.7 billion each year.
Sightsavers called on the relevant authorities across Africa and other regions of the world to integrate eye health into their national health programmes and invest in inclusive eye health services, with a particular focus on women and girls.
Photo source: Sightsavers
