The government is working to bring advanced eye treatment closer to people by introducing dedicated outpatient, inpatient and operation theatre facilities at 151-bed hospitals being built at upazila level across the country, State Minister for Health Dr. M A Muhit said Tuesday.
“The government is giving the highest priority to the health sector and is committed to ensuring modern eye care for people at the grassroots,” he said.
The state minister was speaking as the chief guest at the launch of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) SPECS 2030 Initiative in Bangladesh at a hotel in the capital.
The government is also finalising a National Eye Care Plan aimed at conducting around ten lakh cataract surgeries, distributing several crore pairs of spectacles and expanding treatment for diabetic retinopathy, said the minister.
Besides, work is underway to turn upazila health complexes into full-fledged 151-bed hospitals, with advanced eye care facilities planned for around 500 upazilas, he said.
This will reduce the need for people to travel to district towns or Dhaka for eye treatment, he added.
As part of the plan to strengthen primary healthcare, primary eye care will be included as a mandatory component of the training of around 100,000 health workers currently in the recruitment process, said Muhit.
The government also plans to strengthen cataract surgery and refraction services at district hospitals, with the aim of providing regular services in at least half of the country’s districts soon.
Speaking about the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH), Dr Muhit said a major project has been taken up to modernise and expand the institute and its implementation will begin soon.
The government also plans to work with public and private organisations and NGOs to share Bangladesh’s experience in eye care at the global level, he said.
Dr Muhit said the Health Ministry has been working with local and international organisations over the past six months to improve and expand eye care services.
He said Bangladesh has also secured a major commitment to host a global summit through efforts at the highest level of government.
“Our goal is to bring about a major positive change in the country’s eye care sector within the next three to four years,” he said.