Antigua and Barbuda is advancing a national initiative to reduce preventable blindness and strengthen eye care services through international partnerships and expanded local training.
The "Blind Free Zone" programme was discussed at this week's Cabinet meeting and forms part of a two-year agreement between the Ministry of Health and international partners. Director General of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, described it as a collaborative effort to expand access to eye care while improving early detection and treatment of vision problems.
The country has already received US$90,000 worth of specialised ophthalmic equipment to support eye care services nationwide.
Several local nurses are currently undergoing specialised training at the Aravind Eye Hospital in India — the largest eye care hospital network in that country. Upon completing their training, the nurses will return home to help establish and operate two community-based eye care centres under the Ministry of Health.
The centres are expected to serve communities along a corridor stretching from Grace Farm through Golden Grove, Jennings, All Saints, English Harbour and Falmouth, while remaining accessible to residents from across the island.
The programme will focus on early detection and treatment of preventable eye conditions, which account for a significant portion of vision loss worldwide. To ensure accessibility, the government plans to keep the cost of eyeglasses below $100, while maintaining the long-term sustainability of the programme.
