𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟰𝟱

Kenya has pledged to eliminate cataract-related blindness by 2045 through an ambitious national plan aimed at reducing avoidable vision impairment and restoring sight to millions of people.

The commitment was announced during the Global Summit for Eye Health, where Kenya set a target of reducing the proportion of people aged 50 and above living with cataract-related vision impairment from approximately eight per cent currently to 2.5 per cent by 2045.

Head of Nursing and Curative Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Andrew Jacob Toro, said access to eye care was essential to human dignity, productivity and socio-economic development.

“Sight is fundamental to human dignity, opportunity and participation in society. It enables children to learn, people to work, families to thrive and nations to prosper,” he said.

To achieve the target, Toro said the Government planned to significantly expand access to cataract surgery by increasing the cataract surgical rate from the current 750 operations per million people to 2,000 by 2030 and 8,600 by 2036.

The plan is expected to facilitate approximately nine million cataract operations between 2027 and 2045, supported by sustainable financing through the Social Health Authority (SHA), strengthened eye health services, expanded healthcare workforce capacity and improved referral systems.

Toro noted that investing in eye health would strengthen the country's healthcare system and enable individuals to realise their full potential.

The expert said Kenya, with a population of approximately 57.5 million, has a major opportunity to improve health, education and economic outcomes through greater investment in eye health. 

He said better vision enables children to learn, adults to work and earn a living, and older people to remain independent and active in their communities.

Besides improving health outcomes, the commitment is expected to generate significant economic benefits. 

According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), an additional investment of USD 25.5 million in eye health between 2026 and 2030 could generate USD 265 million in economic benefits for Kenya.

“Evidence from IAPB's Value of Vision investment case shows that an additional US$25.5 million investment in eye health between 2026 and 2030 could generate US$265 million in economic benefits for Kenya,” reads part of the report.

The investment is also projected to contribute the equivalent of 8,628 additional years of schooling, prevent 243 road traffic injuries and avert 4,168 cases of depression among people living with vision impairment.

VisionSpring, in partnership with local organisations and communities, is supporting efforts to expand access to affordable eye care, particularly among underserved populations.

VisionSpring Africa Program Manager Ruth Mugo said the organisation was committed to improving access to eyeglasses, particularly for farmers, agricultural workers and small-scale entrepreneurs, while supporting government efforts to advance national eye health priorities.

“Eyeglasses are not a luxury. They are a powerful tool for improving livelihoods, independence and well-being,” she said.

Mugo said the organisation aims to improve the vision of an additional 550,000 people in Kenya through eyeglasses by 2030, contributing to its global target of reaching 20 million more people.

“Our commitment to correct the vision of 550,000 more people in Kenya with eyeglasses by 2030 contributes to VisionSpring's global commitment to correct the vision of 20 million more people,” she revealed.

She noted that the organisation would work with partners to expand community and workplace eye care services, strengthen service delivery and improve access to affordable eyeglasses.