Myanmar

Blindness in Myanmar

Myanmar is a country to the west of China that was formerly known as Burma. There are 135 different ethnic groups with their own languages and cultures in the country, which creates many obstacles for implementing universal healthcare. Myanmar’s healthcare system is a mixture of public and private services, with higher quality and number of services available to the wealthy.

The Department of Public Health is mainly responsible for primary and basic healthcare services. One of the major challenges is reaching patients in remote areas because of a lack of resources and healthcare workers. In 1984, the government established the Trachoma Control and Prevention of Blindness Program, and since then, prevalence rates of ocular diseases have decreased consistently.

However, it is estimated that about 0.58% of the population still suffer from blindness. That is over 300,000 people! Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the country, followed by glaucoma and corneal pathology. A 2009 study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information reported that of all blindness cases in Myanmar, over 90% were avoidable, and 81.9% were treatable. This is why organizations like SEE are so important in Myanmar as they ensure patients are able to get the treatment they need.