Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every Zambian, especially those in rural areas and vulnerable communities, have access to quality eye health care services.
Minister of Health Elijah Muchima expressed concern over the limited access to eye care services in rural areas and called for strengthened stakeholder collaboration to bridge the gap.
The media reports that speaking during an Eye Health Advocacy Breakfast Meeting in Lusaka today, Dr Muchima said the government is scaling up efforts to expand quality eye care services, equip health facilities and strengthen human resource capacity in the sector.
“There is a need for stakeholders to collaborate in enhancing access to eye health care in rural areas, especially among the elderly. We want to hear of stakeholders taking services to places like Shang’ombo and Dundumwezi,” he said.
Meanwhile, Orbis Country Director Lucia Mvula said the organisation has been working with the Ministry of Health since 2010 to strengthen the country’s overburdened and under-resourced health care system.
“By partnering with local hospitals, we have improved community awareness, increased surgical rates and equipped health personnel and facilities to provide quality eye care services,” she said.
Ms Mula further emphasised the importance of continued partnerships in combating preventable and avoidable blindness across the country.
And Operation Eyesight Universal Country Director Kennedy Phiri has expressed concern that only 10 percent of the K26 Billion health sector allocation in the 2026 national budget is directed towards eye health care, which he said is inadequate to meet the growing demand for services.
“The problem is not only affecting the elderly but also learners and poor communities who cannot afford glasses,” he said.
He urged the government to prioritise the recruitment of more eye health personnel in the forthcoming national health recruitment exercise, as provided for in the 2026 budget.
Mr Phiri further reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to supporting Government efforts in ensuring that all hard-to-reach communities have equitable access to eye health care services.
