Head of Nursing and Curative Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Andrew Jacob Toro at the Global Summit in Antigua and Barbuda for Eye Health /HANDOUT

Kenya has committed to eliminating cataract as a public health problem by 2045 in an ambitious national plan targeting to restore sight to millions of people and reduce avoidable vision impairment.

Under the commitment, the government aims to reduce the proportion of people aged 50 and above living with cataract-related vision impairment from the current estimated eight per cent to 2.5 per cent by 2045.

The plan will involve a major expansion of access to cataract surgery, with the country targeting to increase the cataract surgical rate from approximately 750 operations per million people currently to 2,000 per million by 2030 and 8,600 per million by 2036.

The targets are expected to facilitate approximately nine million cataract operations between 2027 and 2045, significantly improving access to sight-restoring treatment.

The commitment was announced at the Global Summit for Eye Health, hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and co-hosted by Bangladesh, Guyana, Ireland and Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

“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. Achieving these ambitions calls for a health system that works for everyone,” said Toro.

The government plans to support the initiative through sustainable financing under the Social Health Authority (SHA), strengthening eye health services, expanding the healthcare workforce and improving referral pathways.

It will also establish a National Cataract Quality Committee to oversee surgical standards, quality of care and patient outcomes.

In 2027, the Ministry of Health will spearhead the development of a costed national cataract plan incorporating county-level targets, workforce requirements and a monitoring framework to track progress towards the 2045 goal.

The economic benefits of investing in eye health are also expected to be significant.

Delegates at the Global Summit for Eye Health Summit Antigua and Barbuda wearing the signature heart-shaped eye glasses/HANDOUT

According to IAPB's Value of Vision investment case, an additional investment of US$25.5 million (approximately Sh3.3 billion) in eye health between 2026 and 2030 could generate US$265 million (about Sh34 billion) in economic benefits for Kenya.

The analysis further estimates that improved access to eye care could deliver 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.

Meanwhile, VisionSpring, which works with local partners and communities to expand access to affordable eye care, has committed to improving vision for an additional 550,000 Kenyans through eyeglasses by 2030.

The organisation's Africa Programme Manager Ruth Mugo said access to corrective eyewear was essential in improving livelihoods and independence.

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

She said the organisation would work with partners through technical assistance, demand-generation strategies and the supply of affordable, fit-for-purpose eyeglasses to strengthen service delivery and close gaps in access to vision correction.

The commitment forms part of VisionSpring's global ambition to improve the vision of an additional 20 million people.

IAPB Chief Executive Officer Peter Holland described the summit as a turning point in global efforts to address avoidable blindness.

“The Global Summit for Eye Health marks a defining moment for global eye health. Never before have so many governments, organisations, and private sector leaders come together around a shared commitment to expand access to sight-saving care,” said Holland.