Workshop suggests creation of special funds to remove cataract among the poor

A workshop has stressed special funds to help the poor in Bangladesh undergo cataract operation to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020.

The World Health Organisation in 1999 launched the ‘Vision 2020’ campaign on eye care, including prevention and management of blindness, with over 20 international NGOs.

Cataract, clouding of the eye lens, is one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness.

A study suggests 600,000 people have remained blind in Bangladesh due to cataract, as existing facilities can only handle 150,000 cases, adding to a yearly backlog.

“One-third of those who remain blind are the poorest of the poor,” Country Director of Orbis International Dr Munir Ahmed said.

He told bdnews24.com on the sidelines of the workshop on Tuesday that apart from the increasing treatment capacity, a special financing mechanism was needed to restore vision by removing cataracts among the poor.

“Surgery is free at government hospitals. But patients have to spend money on transport, buying lens and meet other expenses that they cannot afford. Our calculation is that the total cost involves Tk 2,500 for a person.

“The Indian government has adopted a strategy to reimburse half the cost and the rest is provided by the NGOs. This model can be introduced in Bangladesh,” Dr Ahmed said.

The private sector and NGOs, he said, were together dealing with about 80 percent of the total annual cataract surgeries, but the government facilities with the same strength were managing the remaining 20 percent.

“Here we need a strong collaboration to increase the number of annual cataract operations to reduce the backlog.”

The Ophthalmology Society of Bangladesh (OSB) and the International NGO Forum organised the workshop on eye health to identify the challenges and recommend solutions.

Health Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam underlined greater public-private collaboration for eliminating blindness by 2020.