24 Jun 2019

 A three-year cataract blindness campaign conducted by India based  Dr Sharoff’s  Charity Eye Hospital, has been completed with the project achieving 3 493 surgeries beyond the anticipated target of 3 000.

The partnership dates back to 2016 and was facilitated by a partnership between the health ministry and Dr Sharoff’s Charity Eye Hospital.

The closing ceremony for the three-year campaign was held at Scottish Livingstone Hospital (SLH) in Molepolole on June 21. 

In his remarks, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness  Mr Moses Keetile said for the blindness challenge to be effectively tackled, there was a need for an effective and focused multi-sectoral partnership to strengthen the eye health. 

Like most developing countries, he said Botswana was challenged by the problem of blindness and visual impairment as revealed by the 2005 and 2014 studies.

“It is also reflected from these studies that there is an increase in the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment despite the different interventions the government has put in place,” said Mr Keetile.

He said Botswana previously benefited from similar gesture in 2011 by a team of Ophthalmologists from Sankara Nethralaya also helping reduce the cataract backlog cases under the campaign slogan ‘SAVE AN EYE’.

Cataract surgery, he said was one of the most cost-effective health interventions known, as most patient operated on irrespective of surgical technics were immensely satisfied with the level of visual rehabilitation after surgery. 

He said it was therefore important to have the situation improved through the provision of universal eye health. 

“We need to have adequate specialised eye equipment, consumables, medications and above all skilled human resources at all levels of healthcare,” he advised. 

Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to Botswana, Dr Rajesh Ranjan said Botswana as a country that had the political will to improve the health of its people was suited for an intervention. 

Dr Ranjana highlighted training of ophthalmologists and paramedics in modern eye surgery and the supply of equipment and its maintenance as possible areas where the two countries could collaborate in improving eye health in Botswana. 

Presenting the event’s overview, the National Eye Health coordinator, Ms Alice Lehasa, expressed gratitude over the level of commitment shown by the management of Dr Sharoff’s Charity Eye Hospital by assisting Botswana to combat blindness.  

“It was not an easy journey, but you have made it through teamwork and partnership, are crucial to achieving the intended goals,” she said.

The three-year partnership between the health ministry and Dr Sharoff’s Charity Eye Hospital, she said, was mainly to facilitate cooperation in eliminating cataract patient backlog in Botswana as well as to build capacity among local eye care personnel as part of the National Eye Care Plan of 2015-19. 

She said the partnership with Dr Sharoff’s Charity Eye Hospital was influenced by a number of factors such as the increasing number of people on long waiting list suffering from bilateral advanced cataract.

She also noted that the eye care delivery system was unable to meet the huge demand due to shortage of relevant personnel such as ophthalmologists in the ministry

Dr Freddy Mbumba, head of Opthalmology in the ministry challenged the health system to seriously consider the increase of personnel and the relevant equipment in the same area to help sustain the project than to rely mostly on aid.

Dr Sharoff’s Charity Eye Hospital delegation was led by Dr Nikunj Bhutt with 11 team members, three doctors, an optometrist and six ophthalmic nurses, among others. ENDS