Govt to conduct 10 lakh cataract  surgeries by 2030

State Minister for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Dr M A Muhith has said the government has pledged to perform 10 lakh cataract surgeries and distribute one crore pairs of glasses by 2030 to address blindness and visual impairment among citizens.

During the same period, around two crore people will be brought under eye healthcare services through a national referral system, he said.

The state minister made the remarks in a pre-recorded video message delivered at the World Eye Health Summit on Tuesday, outlining the government’s commitments.

The global summit is being hosted by the government of Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and international development partners. Bangladesh is among the co-hosts of the event.

Dr Muhith said preventable blindness and visual impairment were not merely a humanitarian concern but also had significant negative impacts on society and the national economy.

Healthy vision is essential for children’s physical and mental development, human resource development, increased national productivity and enabling citizens to realise their full potential, he added.

Outlining Bangladesh’s position and five-year plan at the summit, Dr Muhith said the government had made eye health a top priority and declared a national commitment to protecting people’s vision.

As part of this commitment, the government will implement the National Eye Health Action Plan for 2026-2030, he said.

The state minister also expressed the government’s commitment to working jointly with national and international non-governmental development organisations and development partners to ensure universal access to eye healthcare services.