By Patience Lunda
The absence of optometrists in rural health centres has been cited as one of the problems fuelling deaths linked to preventable diseases.
This was disclosed when Viphya and Mzuzu Lions Club created an eye outreach clinic in Mpamba area, Nkhata Bay District, as one of the activities marking World Sight Day.
Mzuzu Central Hospital optometrist Juma Banda said eye diseases such as cataract, bacterial conjunctivitis and glaucoma can be treated if presented to healthcare officials earlier.
“As such, eye outreach clinics are beneficial because they ease people’s access to medical services.
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“Many people in rural areas have preventable eye diseases but do not seek medical help because of long distance to healthcare service centres,” Banda said.
During the eye outreach clinic, medical personnel screened people and offered medication, with those diagnosed with cataract being referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital for free-of-charge surgical operations.
Viphya Lions Club President Cypriano Mkinga said they organised the clinic to complement the government’s efforts.
“We, as a charity organisation, would like to help eye patients in rural areas have access to free services because most of them face mobility challenges to get to the hospital,” he said.
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One of the service seekers, Getrude Nkhunkha, lamented the long distance they cover to get to healthcare service facilities.
The theme for this year’s World Sight Day was ‘Love Your Eyes’.
