Zambia

Blindness in Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked country located in southern Africa and is recognized as one of the fastest economically reformed countries in the continent. However, the general state of healthcare in Zambia is still quite poor and health facilities are heavily underfunded. Many Zambian doctors leave the public sector to work outside the country or in private health facilities, leaving the public sector with few skilled professionals.

In the rural and remote areas of Zambia, most communities rely on small government-run community health centers and rural health posts. With the leading causes of blindness being vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, inadequate clean water and sanitation, and lack of access to healthcare facilities, there is a strong correlation between poverty and blindness in Zambia.

Blindness has had a significant impact on the country’s economic and social development, causing the government of Zambia to declare blindness prevention a priority in health care.