AMN PLUS-November 4, 2026
Ethiopia has unveiled a $2 million initiative aimed at providing eye health services to at least 41 million citizens by 2030, reaffirming its commitment to expanding access to quality and affordable eye care nationwide. The announcement was made at the inaugural Global Eye Health Summit, held in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.
The summit was organized by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Guyana, Ireland, and Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). The historic gathering aimed to advance the United Nations’ 2030 vision of achieving universal access to eye health care and addressing the growing global burden of vision impairment and preventable blindness.
Ethiopia participated in the summit, represented by Dr. Lelisa Amanuel, National Medical Campaigns Coordinator in the Health Services and Programs Sector of the Ministry of Health and Senior Advisor to the State Minister. At the summit, Ethiopia received the Global Vision Impact Award in recognition of its exemplary efforts to integrate primary eye health services into the country’s universal health coverage system. The award recognizes Ethiopia’s achievements in incorporating primary eye care and community-based eye screening into its national healthcare system, contributing to improved public health outcomes and broader access to essential medical services.
During the summit, the Ethiopian government also announced a $2 million investment to expand community-based eye screening and primary eye care services, with the goal of reaching at least 41 million citizens by 2030.
The initiative seeks to strengthen the quality of eye care services across more than 3,200 primary healthcare facilities nationwide, expand access to eyeglasses, improve early screening and referral systems, and enhance the quality and outcomes of cataract surgery. The investment is also expected to support Ethiopia’s national target of bringing 50 percent of schoolchildren under eye health coverage before 2030.
Speaking at the summit, Dr. Lelisa Amanuel emphasized that Ethiopia is working to ensure that every citizen has access to quality and affordable eye care services, regardless of age, gender, income level, eye health condition, or place of residence.
He further highlighted that preventable vision loss can be reduced and sight restored through collective efforts, stressing that these initiatives are essential to building an inclusive healthcare system that serves all citizens. Meanwhile, the Vision Action Fund announced a total of $10 million in financial support for 24 countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Sudan.
The fund aims to assist countries in integrating eye health care into their national healthcare systems, strengthening access to quality primary eye care, and improving the availability of eyeglasses. In addition, organizations such as Orbis International announced $32 million in financial and technical assistance for the period from 2027 to 2030.
At the conclusion of the summit, more than 200 new commitments were reportedly announced to expand eye health services and benefit millions of people worldwide before 2030. Information presented at the summit indicated that more than 1.1 billion people worldwide are affected by vision loss that could be prevented or treated, while over 2 billion people experience various forms of vision impairment.
The commitments made at the summit are expected to accelerate global efforts to expand equitable access to eye health services and reduce the burden of preventable blindness and vision impairment worldwide, according to ENA.