Visual impairment and blindness are one of major public health problems worldwide that can affect people of all ages and impact an individual’s quality of life by making daily activities challenging. The negative impact not only causes significant health problems on affected people but also caregivers and society at large.
According to WHO’s latest report (10 August 2023), globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near- or far-sighted impairment. In at least one billion of these, vision impairment could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness at a global level are refractive errors and cataracts. Vision impairment poses an enormous global financial burden, as the report indicated.
When it comes to developing countries where there are not enough health care services and eye care treatment is still in its infancy stage, the challenge is more pressing. Every year, millions of people are exposed to visual impairments and blindness that could have been easily prevented. To address the challenge and eliminate corneal blindness through providing integrated services at the health facilities, the Ministry of Health has been working persistently.
Especially, by establishing a responsible institute, the Eye Bank of Ethiopia (EBE) is striving to address the problem and eradicate corneal blindness by joining hands with local and international institutions. The prime task of the Bank is collecting corneal tissues, preserving and distributing to beneficiaries in accordance to set standards. The Bank has been operational since 2003; and is providing services to communities in hinterlands and urban parts of Ethiopia.
Last week, EBE commemorated its 20 years establishment anniversary by organizing a number of informative events and acknowledging various institutions that have been supporting its effort to eliminate corneal blindness. The event, including President Sahle-Work Zewde, was attended by senior government officials and health professionals. President Sahle-Work also called on institutions and fellow citizens to support the EBE.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Blood and Tissue Bank Desk Officer Liya Tikabo said that corneal blindness is a major health problem. The national blindness study released in 2006 confirmed that not less than 300,000 Ethiopians went blind due to corneal scarring, and the figure will increase for sure.
Ethiopia needs more facilities that could provide services on eye health problems because it is one of the countries with the highest rates of blindness (1.6 %) and low vision (3.7 %), of which more than 80 percent is either treatable or preventable cases.
Responding to the impact of the disease, she said corneal blindness is an eye disorder that changes the corneal transparency, causing corneal scarring and blindness. The leading causes of corneal blindness include infectious causes, due to bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
“If it is treated early, it is avoidable; thus, the Bank encourages communities to bring affected fellow citizens timely.” She further noted that eliminating corneal blindness requires patient access to good-quality, affordable eye care across all stages; and providing integrated corneal health services into primary healthcare systems, and access to transplant tissue.
In this regard, the role EBE plays in regaining sight is indispensable. “We have eleven specialized medical doctors working in various parts of the nation; we provide them with tissue as per their request,” she remarked. As to her, the Bank dispatches tissues to Jimma, Hawassa and Adama through high standard transportation service.
It is also working along with local and international organizations to ensure quality services and provide technical assistance for nations in the process of establishing eye banks. For instance, EBE has assisted Mali in providing training in its effort to establish Eye Bank of Mali. The Bank will keep on working along with African nations and local as well as international institutions.
“EBE has helped 3075 fellow citizens to regain sight since its establishment, and we would like reaffirm our commitment in providing quality services. It offers services through internationally certified standards and we will maintain it. ”
Bank’s Public Relations and Communication CEO Alemayehu Tarekegn said that the Bank aspires not only to be one of the hubs of excellence in eye medical services and corneal tissue transplantation but also a center of excellence.
The Bank is providing medication services serving as a model for development throughout Africa via the establishment of the first eye bank in sub-Saharan Africa, which will utilize global best practices, ensure a steady supply of tissue to the country, and drive cornea health system policy enablers.
EBE is the only eye bank in the country engaged in the collection and storage of donor’s cornea, and per annum, the Bank harvested about 130–150 corneas. However, according to him, the amount of cornea harvested every year mismatches with the number of people waiting for cornea transplantation.
There is a wide disproportion between the demand and supply of corneal tissues; for the reason people are still reluctant to donate their corneal after death; the transplant activity is also reliant on the willingness of people to donate their cornea after death, he reiterated.
He further noted that lack of awareness and unwillingness to donate cornea is resulting in absence of corneal tissues in eye banks for various reasons including age, gender, and religion, among others. According to Alemayehu, efforts are underway to bridge the gap and create an informed community towards what corneal tissue donation means.
Ethiopia is a pioneer country that collects tissues locally and provides services to the communities who are in need of the tissue. To elevate tissue donation practices among the community, EBE is working along with media houses, school clubs as well as dedicated individuals targeting on awareness raising activities.
He also urged the people to donate tissue and support those in need of cornea rather than let it decompose, “Our donation could help to illuminate the life of individuals who are affected by visual impairment. If we stand in unison we can let thousands regain sight, eliminate corneal blindness,” he concluded
EBE was realized in 2003 after a tripartite agreement reached between ORBIS international, the EBE and the Addis Ababa City Administration.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2023
