Eye disease said to be one of the neglected health conditions

Health Minister Sylvia Masebo says eye diseases are one of the neglected health conditions in the country.

According to statistics from 2014, 339,081 people in Zambia are blind with over 200,000 requirement eye care.

And according to a consortium of eye health partners in Zambia, the country currently has inadequate staff in eye hospitals and clinics despite the diseases burden being very high and serious.

Speaking on behalf of the partners Dr. Linda Kasonka during a breakfast meeting the partners held with the health minister in Lusaka today, stated that the country only has about 38 ophthalmologists with most facilities lacking eye condition treatment drugs and consumables such as eye drops.

She has therefore requested for increased investment in the supply chain for eye health, recruitment of over 50 human resource for eye health, integration of primary eye care into other primary health care activities and easy accessibility of eye care activities.

And in response Ms. Masebo acknowledged that the eye sector has been neglected and overlooked, stating that it is unfortunate that the national budget does not have a specific allocation to eye health care services.

The Minister has however assured that she will ensure that 51 ophthalmologists are among the 11,200 health orders to be employed, further assuring that the ministry will closely work with ZAMSSA so that at least the basic medicines needed for eye treatment are part of the health center kit.