Abu Dhabi:The government has unveiled an ambitious plan to improve primary eye-care services for at least 20 million people over the next five years, as part of a strategy to prevent blindness and visual impairment. This initiative was announced by State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. MA Muhit during a discussion in the capital, coinciding with the observance of World Sight Day 2026.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Dr. Muhit emphasized the government's commitment to integrating primary eye care into the broader primary healthcare system. The plan aims to reach underserved communities, schools, and workplaces, including garment factories, with enhanced vision screening and treatment services. This approach is intended to boost productivity and income by improving individuals' ability to work.
The government's strategy includes establishing a referral network to ensure patients identified through screenings receive appropriate treatment. Plans are in place to distribute eyeglasses to 10 million people, including schoolchildren, and to facilitate cataract surgeries for at least 1 million individuals.
Training will be provided to at least 80 percent of the country's ophthalmologists, and a National Eye Health Strategic Plan will be developed to sustain these programs. The government has committed $130 million to eye health care over the next five years.
Dr. Muhit acknowledged the significant challenge of meeting these targets but described the commitments, which will be presented at the upcoming Global Summit for Eye Health, as a crucial advancement.
The discussion was jointly organized by the National Institution of Ophthalmology and Hospital and the Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh, with support from the INGO Forum in Eye Health. Key speakers included Dr. Syeed Mehbub Ul Kadir, Dr. Munir Ahmed, Dr. Md Tauhidur Rahman, Prof. Md Ninnu Rain (Newton), Amrita Rejina Rozario, and Misha Mahjabeen.