Nairobi: African countries have been urged to ensure that older people are able to age with dignity and good health by focusing on eye health.
According to Kenya News Agency, stakeholders on global health and development partners convened for a three-day meeting in South Africa organized by the Fred Hollows Foundation. The meeting highlighted that many countries lack national programs to address eye health.
Speaking at the meeting, which was attended by stakeholders from governments and NGOs focused on eye health, the foundation's Deputy Country Director for Ethiopia, Mr. Melesse Akalu, emphasized the impact of poor vision on older individuals in communities. He noted the significant difference that access to affordable, quality eye care can make, describing the meeting as a powerful step towards national commitments that bring real change to older people.
By 2050, the number of people aged 60 and over in Africa is projected to triple, from 69 million in 2017 to 226 million. Currently, around 70 million Africans aged 50 and above live with avoidable vision loss, a figure set to rise unless eye health becomes a priority. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness, accounting for half to two-thirds of cases.
In Kenya, cataracts are a major concern for the aging population. Estimates indicate a significant number of new visually impairing cataracts among adults aged 50 and above. Dr. de la Fuente Nº±ez, the Foundation's Healthy Ageing Senior Advisor, stressed the need for older people to access necessary eye care to age with dignity and full societal participation.
The meeting aimed to place eye health at the center of policy discussions, addressing gaps, raising awareness, strengthening regional collaboration, and aligning African priorities with the global agenda on eye health. Vision loss in older age has serious consequences, including increased risks of falls, cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation, which limits independence and participation in community and work life.
Eye health is often absent from aging strategies in Africa, and existing services are underfunded and inaccessible, especially for older women, people with disabilities, and those in rural areas. This leaves avoidable vision loss a neglected public health issue across the continent. Mr. Senanu Quacoe Wossinu, Chair of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) for the West Africa Region, emphasized the importance of joining forces to prevent preventable vision loss.
The meeting served as a springboard for building a strong, unified regional voice and driving coordinated efforts across Africa. It was an important step towards ensuring Africa's priorities are represented at the first Global Summit for Eye Health in 2026. Participating countries are expected to begin shaping a roadmap to this summit, identifying steps toward improved policy, service delivery, and implementation of eye health initiatives for older people.
Efforts to close the gap in eye care for older populations will help meet the World Health Organization's 2030 eye health targets, advance the ambitions of IAPB's 2030 In Sight strategy, and fulfill the vision of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). In Kenya, the Fred Hollows Foundation has been active since 2004, enhancing eye health services through partnerships with county governments, health training institutions, community organizations, and the private sector.