Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
HUNDREDS of people from Manicaland’s rural communities received free eye care last week after ZimSmart Villages launched an outreach programme targeting underserved communities across the province.
The initiative reached Headlands, Murambinda, Rusape, Nyazura and Nyanga, offering vital relief to villagers who often struggle to access basic health services due to cost and distance.
For many beneficiaries, it was their first ever eye examination, said ZimSmart Villages business development manager, Miss Alsandra Kuvaoga.
She said the outreach was designed to close long-standing gaps in eye care provision.
“Eye care in Zimbabwe remains largely unaffordable for rural communities. As a result, most people have little or no access to even basic screening. Conditions such as refractive errors, cataracts and glaucoma often go undiagnosed, affecting daily life — children struggle to see in class and adults face reduced productivity. That is why we brought the outreach to Manicaland’s rural communities,” she said.
Without early intervention, she added, such conditions can worsen into avoidable visual impairment, undermining both livelihoods and quality of life.
The programme extended beyond eye tests.
Villagers also received free blood pressure and blood sugar checks, along with subsidised cancer screenings, making it a comprehensive community health intervention.
“The turnout was strong and clearly reflects the unmet need for these services,” said Miss Kuvaoga.
To ensure sustainability, ZimSmart Villages has integrated the outreach with its Mudhumeni WeUtano programme, which uses community-based health workers and digital tools.
“Digital health promoters are now equipped to carry out basic visual acuity checks and refer patients to remote specialists via telehealth,” she explained.
The approach empowers communities to take a more proactive role in their health, moving away from the habit of seeking care only when conditions become severe.
“People who have never had their eyes tested are now accessing care. More importantly, communities are no longer accepting poor vision as normal — they are actively seeking help,” she said.
Miss Kuvaoga said the broader goal is to shift healthcare delivery from reactive to preventive, from facility-based to community-centred, and from episodic to continuous, data-informed care. For beneficiaries, the outreach was more than medical intervention — it was a chance to see clearly again, both literally and figuratively, as health awareness grows in rural areas.
One beneficiary in Nyazura, Mr Elias Tichafa (62), said he had struggled with his sight for years, but never sought treatment.
“I thought it was just old age. I could no longer read properly, and even recognising people from a distance had become difficult. After the screening, they told me I need glasses. I am relieved because now I understand the problem,” he said.
Another beneficiary from Murambinda, Mrs Tariro Chikore, said the programme helped her young daughter who had been struggling at school.
“My child’s teacher said she could not see the board, but I could not afford to take her to town for tests.
“They tested her eyes for free and explained everything. Now I know she needs help, and I can plan for it,” she said.
Mr Farai Muchengeti welcomed the additional health checks.
“They also checked my blood pressure and sugar levels. I had never done that before. It is important because some illnesses show no early symptoms,” he said.
