2030 goal to reduce blindness

The country has ambitions to reduce the prevalence of blindness by lowering its rate to 0.35% by 2030, according to the Ministry of Health.

In a press release marking World Sight Day on Thursday, the ministry said it was developing a strategic plan to study the causes of blindness and prevent it, and aimed to reduce the blindness rate.

“The health ministry has developed the third National Strategic Plan for Blindness Prevention and Control 2021-2030, with the ambitious goal of reducing the prevalence of blindness to 0.35% by 2030,” it said.

It added that in Cambodia, the problem of blindness and impaired vision was a public health issue that could largely be solved with more effort and resources because 90% of the blindness and vision impairment was avoidable and treatable.

“(The) result of the blindness prevention and control plan has lowered the rate from 1.2% in 1995 to 0.37% in 2019,” it said. — The Phnom Penh Post/ANN