Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
HUNDREDS of Mutare residents last week received prescription spectacles and other vital eye care services at subsidised fees, courtesy of the Sight to the World initiative spearheaded by Albino Trust of Zimbabwe (ATZ).
ATZ is working in partnership with City of Mutare and Ministry of Health and Child Care. The three-day eye health outreach was held across three major council health facilities — Chikanga Polyclinic, Sakubva Polyclinic, and Mutare City Clinic — drawing hundreds of patients for free eye screening, refraction exams, and reading glasses.
Those who needed prescription spectacles got them at a subsidised fee.
ATZ executive director, Mr Bruce Nyoni said for those with albinism, both consultation and prescription spectacles were provided for free.
“The campaign is part of a broader effort to improve access to assistive devices and quality healthcare for marginalised and vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe,” he said, adding that since the programme launch in Mutare in May 2024, more than 2 000 people have benefited.
“This programme is about making healthcare inclusive. While ATZ is a youth- and disability-led organisation, we make sure no one is left behind. We are committed to ensuring universal health coverage and breaking down the barriers that people with any kind of impairment face every day,” he said, stressing that those living with albinism are at higher risk of both visual complications and skin cancer, making the provision of spectacles and sunscreen lotions a critical intervention.
“People with albinism received prescription spectacles and sunscreen lotions for free during the programme. Our goal is, not only to address their eye health needs, but also to support their overall well-being and mobility. We believe in empowering people with the right tools to participate fully in society,” he said.
The consultation fee for the general public was pegged at a modest US$10, which included screening and the eye refraction exam.
After three days, prescription spectacles will be ready for collection, exceeding expectations of many.
Apart from spectacles, the initiative also included the distribution of assistive devices for people with different impairments.
These included sunglasses for the visually impaired to help reduce sensitivity to light and stigma, white canes for the blind, and talking watches and hearing aids for those with hearing and vision impairments.
“We are not just giving out glasses. We are giving dignity and restoring confidence. By distributing these devices, we are reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with disability. We want everyone to live full, empowered lives,” said Mr Nyoni, adding that they were expanding services to reach more vulnerable populations, including those in prisons.
“We are now mobilising to bring this programme to Mutare Farm and Remand prisons as well as other prisons across the country, having started in Harare. Everyone deserves the right to health, regardless of their situation. Planning is already underway, and we will be back in Mutare soon,” he said.
City of Mutare and Ministry of Health and Child Care played a pivotal role in the success of last week’s campaign, providing essential facilities and support staff to expand the reach of the initiative.
The campaign benefited a diverse range of individuals, including elderly participants and schoolchildren.
Mbuya Linet Mutasa, one of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude: “I have struggled with reading for two years. After an eye examination, I was told I needed reading glasses, but they were unaffordable. This programme has been a miracle.”
Takudzwa Matombo (15), from Chikanga also shared his experience: “Sometimes I could not see what the teacher wrote on the board, making me feel like I was failing. But now, with my new glasses, I feel confident that I will be able to keep up with my classmates.”
Online Reporter