The Government of Bangladesh has committed $130 million over the next five years to strengthen eye health services nationwide. The investment is expected to provide access to primary eye care for around 20 million people, deliver 1 million free cataract surgeries and distribute 10 million pairs of spectacles across the country.
The announcement was made as part of commitments unveiled at the Global Summit for Eye Health, hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, co-hosted by the Governments of Bangladesh, Guyana, Ireland and Nigeria, in technical collaboration with the World Health Organisation and convened by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), said a press release on Wednesday.
Bangladesh faces a pressing need to expand eye care services as millions of people live with vision impairment that is preventable or treatable. With a population of 175.7 million, the country has a major opportunity to strengthen eye health as part of its wider development agenda.
As per the Value of Vision report on the IAPB Vision Atlas, investment of approximately $129 million in eye health between 2026 and 2030 could generate an estimated $2.31 billion in economic benefits, while reducing sight loss, improving educational outcomes and boosting economic productivity.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare M A Muhit said, “It is our national commitment to ensure vision screening for every citizen and to ensure clear vision from avoidable blindness. We will work together with national and international NGO development partners to provide eye care to every citizen of our country.”
A recent nationwide study in Bangladesh reported a 3.2 per cent prevalence of glaucoma among adults aged 35 and older, while the THRIVE trial found that providing reading glasses to workers in jobs requiring near vision led to a 33.4 per cent increase in median monthly income.
IAPB CEO Peter Holland said, “The Global Summit for Eye Health marks a defining moment for global eye health. Never before have so many governments, organisations, and private sector leaders come together around a shared commitment to expand access to sight-saving care.”
The full package of commitments is available on the Global Summit for Eye Health Portal at https://commitments.globalsummitforeyehealth.org. Pictures and videos are available at https://app.air.inc/a/mccce28e5.
