08 Sep 2024

Blindness, a natural occurrence that is more common in the elderly, often leaves victims feeling hopeless, believing that the condition is incurable.

Little does the public know that the cataract-induced blindness is curable through cataract extraction.

That is why government has over the years partnered with international stakeholders to assist those in need of cataract extraction.

In November 2016, the then Ministry of Health and Wellness signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr Shroff’s Eye Hospital of India, to support a campaign against cataract.

Dr Freddy Mbumbaaid, an expert in the field, provided an overview of the condition and how it affected people.

Cataract is a common eye condition in which the lens becomes ‘clouded’, making it difficult for the patient to see clearly. The condition affects people of all ages, but is more prevalent in people over 50 years, with the chances of increasing as people grow older, Dr Mbumbaaid explained.

He stated that cataracts were the main causes of blindness in developing countries, the risks of which could significantly be reduced with effective surgery.

The cataract blindness campaign, conducted by Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in Botswana, exceeded its anticipated target of 3 000 surgeries by completing 3 493 surgeries during a three-year duration from 2016 to 2019.

Such was a significant achievement for the ministry, to fight the condition and assist those who had it to improve their vision.

At the conclusion of the three-year campaign, the Indian High Commissioner to Botswana at the time, Dr Rajesh Ranjan, commended the country for its political will to improve the health of its citizens and identified several areas where India and Botswana could collaborate to further enhance eye health in the country.

The areas included training in ophthalmologists and paramedics in modern eye surgery techniques, as well as providing medical equipment and its maintenance. These efforts will enable Botswana to expand capacity for eye care and surgery and improve access to care for its citizens.

In October 2022, Botswana took a significant step in advancing its capacity for eye care and surgery with the launch of a national cataract surgery campaign. The campaign, which started in 2021, was carried out entirely by a team of local ophthalmology specialists and support staff.

As a result of the campaign, over 2 200 cataract patients in Botswana, out of an estimated 7 000, have had their sight restored, an achievement that highlights the growing capacity of the health care system to tackle common eye diseases.

The national cataract surgery campaign is one component of the Ministry of Health’s broader efforts to prevent blindness in Botswana.

National Prevention of Blindness Plan, which seeks to eliminate preventable blindness by 2025, outlines several key objectives including increasing access to eye care services, training healthcare workers in eye health and promoting awareness of eye diseases and their prevention.

By investing in the capacity of local ophthalmology teams and delivering effective treatment to thousands of cataract patients, the Ministry of Health is demonstrating its commitment to improve eye health and reduce the prevalence of blindness in Botswana.

Health ministry has also partnered with international organisations and local institutions in this regard and such has expanded the country’s capacity for eye care and surgery, enabling more patients to receive treatment for cataracts and other eye diseases.

Over the years, the ministry has worked with organisations such as Doctors for Life, Elena Baraco Foundation from Spain, and the St. Coptic Mission from Egypt to conduct cataract extraction campaigns across the country.

The recent partnership between the Ministry of Health and St Coptic Mission from Egypt that began September 3 and is anticipated to end September 27, is a significant step in reducing the backlog of patients in need of cataract extraction in the Southern part of Botswana.

It is also part of the ministry’s ongoing commitment to provide high-quality eye care services.

Additionally, the Francistown Academic Hospital has been conducting its own cataract extraction campaign, highlighting the growing capacity of local institutions to deliver effective eye care service.

For patients like Ms Mmamonyanka Kgagara of Molepolole, such campaigns have been a lifesaver.

“I was given far-off dates for surgery, but the campaigns gave me new hope. In mid-2016, my right eye had completely lost sight and I could only partially see with my left eye,” said Ms Kgagara.

Her situation deteriorated over time, leading her to seek medical help in March 2016 as her left eye started to fail her as well. However, due to a backlog of patients with similar conditions, she was initially scheduled for surgery in February 2019.

Ms Kgagara’s fortunes changed when she was called for an early assessment and subsequently had her surgery sooner that she had expected. Her vision was restored and was able to regain her independence. End