Over 500 children screened in first week of free BMH eye camp

DODOMA: MORE than 500 children under the age of 15 have been screened for various eye conditions in the first week of a free 14-day eye medical camp at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) in Dodoma.

The camp, which aims to screen 1,000 children and perform 100 eye surgeries at no cost, is being conducted with full support from the government.

The initiative is part of BMH’s broader mission to expand access to specialised paediatric eye care in Tanzania.

Speaking in a telephone interview, BMH Ophthalmologist Dr Amon Mwakakonyole said the response from the public has been overwhelming, with an average of 96 to 114 children being attended to daily.

“The turnout has been very encouraging. Parents and guardians are taking advantage of this opportunity. Due to the large number of children and limited time, some are given appointments to return the following day,” Dr Mwakakonyole said.

According to Dr Mwakakonyole, the majority of children screened suffer from refractive errors, which require corrective lenses. Other common conditions identified include cataracts, eye allergies and strabismus, which is a condition where the eyes do not align properly when focusing on an object.

He shared one particularly concerning case involving three children from the same family in Kiteto District, all under the age of 15, who were diagnosed with cataracts.

“It was shocking to see all three siblings suffering from cataracts. This could have been easily treated if they had come earlier. Unfortunately, a lack of awareness and poverty are still major barriers for many families,” he added.

The two-week eye camp was officially launched by BMH Executive Director Dr Henry Humba, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving access to specialised care.

“The government has made substantial investments in BMH to enhance its role as a zonal referral hospital. We encourage parents and guardians to take advantage of this opportunity and bring their children for screening,” Dr Humba said.

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BMH specialists are working in collaboration with experts from other health institutions, including Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT), to deliver high quality care during the camp. The initiative aligns with growing global concerns over vision impairment.

A 2023 World Health Organisation (WHO) report estimates that at least 2.2 billion people worldwide have some form of near- or distance-vision impairment.

Of these, at least 1 billion cases could have been prevented or remain unaddressed.

Refractive errors and cataracts are cited as the leading causes of vision impairment globally.

However, only 36 per cent of people with distance vision impairment due to refractive error and 17 per cent of those with cataract-related impairment, have received the care they need