At least 100 elderly people from the Midlands province have benefitted from a free eye camp made possible through Old Mutual, Eye Institute of Zimbabwe and the Midlands Private Hospital partnership.
The eye camp saw senior citizens receiving screenings, treatments and cataract surgeries.
Speaking at the launch of the Midlands Eye camp, Eye Institute of Zimbabwe founder, Ronald Mhizha said the programme, which began as a pilot project in Manicaland was aimed at ensuring citizens particularly the elderly, who cannot afford the high cost of surgeries have access to eye care services.
“Our thrust is to ensure that those, who cannot afford these types of surgeries do not lose hope,”Mhizha said.
“So we are moving across the country giving hope to the elderly by doing surgeries to patients who were just sitting at homes not sure about their next move.
“We want to affirm that this programme is ongoing and we hope our partners Old Mutual will allow us on a continuous basis and not only for eyes but other specialities.”
An Old Mutual representative said the eye camp formed part of a broader national health programme for sustainable eye care services rendered to the elderly.
“The Gweru eye camp forms part of a broader national programme that Old Mutual launched to combat preventable blindless particularly among senior citizens,”he said.
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“Our aim has been giving more elderly Zimbabweans the opportunity to live fuller, healthier and more dignified lives.
“At Old Mutual we believe responsible business goes beyond financial services.”
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Owen Ncube said the eye programme resonated well with government policy’s health for all by 2030 and desire to improve health service delivery and in particular the transformation of the health sector through equitable provision of quality, accessible and affordable world class health services.
“The eye camp resonates with the health for all by the year 2030 policy and mantra of leaving no one and no place behind,” Ncube said.
“I commend the impactful collaboration between Old Mutual Zimbabwe and Eye Institute that complements the second republic’s bold and strategic policy decisions to build a health system that is inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of all citizens.”
A beneficiary and pensioner, Simon Hamba applauded the eye camp programme saying it had given him new hope since his pension earnings can hardly meet his health needs.
“This programme has given me another chance at my eyesight,” he said.
The eye camp initiative began in 2024 with a pilot eye camp in Mutare before extending it to Harare and Midlands.
