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HealthNet TPO’s Eye Care Efforts in Afghanistan

On October 10, 2024, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and supported by the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF), HealthNet TPO celebrated World Sight Day (WSD) across Afghanistan. Events were held in Kabul and several provinces, bringing attention to the urgent need for improved eye care services.

Central Event in Kabul: A National Call for Action

The central celebration in Kabul gathered MoPH officials, healthcare leaders, and NGOs to address eye care issues, with speakers underscoring the reality that 1.5 to 2% of Afghans suffer from blindness, which translates in around 700-800 thousand people.

Many cases are preventable, but access to services is limited, especially for cataract surgery in remote and hard-to-reach areas of Afghanistan. For this reason, through the Accessible Eye Health Care Project, funded by FHF, HealthNet TPO is offering cataract surgeries and distributing eyeglasses to those in need in these remote regions of Afghanistan.

Provincial Celebrations: Kunar, Khost, and Laghman

In addition to the central event in Kabul, HealthNet TPO organised WSD celebrations in Kunar, Khost, and Laghman provinces, where local officials and community members gathered to discuss the impact of the Accessible Eye Health Care Project.

In Kunar, HealthNet TPO’s Dr. Hafizullah Sultani and local health officials spoke on the success of the eye care project, including cataract surgeries and patient support. A beneficiary shared how regained vision transformed his life, underscoring the project’s community impact.

In Khost, HealthNet TPO’s provincial manager, Dr. Abdul Wali Zraswand, discussed the country’s eye care needs. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 3,000 cataract surgeries per million people annually, Afghanistan currently performs only 800 per million. However, Dr. Abdul Wali Zraswand outlined HealthNet TPO’s achievements, such as conducting over 5,000 cataract surgeries annually despite challenges.

In Laghman, religious leaders joined health experts in highlighting eye care’s importance. Hospital staff raised awareness of preventive care and distributed information on treating common eye conditions.

Afghan doctor checking eyes of a patient in the waiting room

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Fight Against Preventable Blindness

While progress has been made, Afghanistan’s eye care system faces ongoing challenges, including a shortage of trained professionals. HealthNet TPO remains committed to addressing these gaps, with over 4,200 outpatient consultations and 610 cataract surgeries completed in the last quarter alone.

The World Sight Day 2024 celebration highlighted the need for continued support from donors and stakeholders to ensure that all Afghans, especially in remote areas, can access quality eye care. HealthNet TPO’s efforts, alongside FHF, offer hope for a brighter future for those at risk of vision loss in Afghanistan.