Drive 10 hours north of Malawi’s capital city of Lilongwe and you’ll find yourself in Chitipa District, a hilly, agricultural region sandwiched into the tripoint border with Zambia and Tanzania. Until recently, the local hospital was over capacity and many people seeking eye health care were being referred to neighbouring hospitals, all between 100 to 350 kilometres away.
Now, thanks to the new Operation Eyesight Vision Centre at the Chitipa District Hospital, help is closer at hand. Working with our partner the Malawi Ministry of Health, we celebrated the official inauguration of the new vision centre on March 14.
The vision centre offers comprehensive eye exams and a variety of treatments, including cataract surgeries. The optical shop will also be able to manufacture and dispense eyeglasses to patients on the spot. The project was made possible through funding from the Estate of John and Gwendolen Margaret Crowe, from Vancouver, Canada.
Blessings Banda, our Program Manager in Malawi, says locals are relieved to have nearby treatment options. “Opening the vision centre will reduce travel and improve the quality of eye care services for patients,” he says. “This project excites me as the new centre is large enough to provide services to those in need.”
Kennedy Phiri, our Country Director for Zambia and Malawi, adds that the new vision centre will serve more than 256,000 people living in the district.
“Operation Eyesight is committed to supporting the government of Malawi to improve the delivery of quality eye care and reach out to communities in need,” Kennedy says. “This milestone today demonstrates that commitment and the great partnership that we have with the government.”
Learn more about our work in Malawi here. Donate today to bring critical eye health services to more communities.
