Govt targets 10 lakh cataract surgeries by 2030

The government aims to conduct 10 lakh cataract surgeries and distribute 1 crore pairs of glasses by 2030 as part of a national drive to prevent blindness and address vision impairment. 

It also plans to bring around 2 crore people under eye healthcare services through an expanded national referral system.

State Minister for Health Dr MA Muhit announced the targets, saying a five-year National Eye Health Action Plan would be implemented from 2026 to 2030 to achieve them.

He made the announcement in a pre-recorded video address at the World Eye Health Summit on Tuesday. His statement was played at the conference.

The global summit is being organised by the government of Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and international development partners. Bangladesh is serving as a co-host.

In his address, Muhit said preventable blindness and vision impairment were not merely humanitarian concerns but also had significant adverse effects on society and the national economy.

Healthy vision, he said, was essential for children’s physical and mental development, human resource development, increased national productivity and enabling citizens to realise their full potential.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s commitments at the summit, the state minister said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, had made eye health a top national priority.

Muhit said ensuring access to eye examinations for every citizen and building a Bangladesh free from preventable blindness were national commitments.

“Through the national healthcare system, we will continue working to prevent blindness and vision impairment, raise public awareness and curb the spread of vision-related problems,” he said.

He also pledged to work with national and international non-governmental organisations and development partners to ensure universal access to eye healthcare services.