Alcon, the global leader in eye care, is celebrating the first anniversary of its African Phaco Development (PD) Program, highlighting the initiative’s success in South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia, and unveiling plans for further regional growth. With a focus on “Skill Africa, by Africa, for Africa,” the program aims to enhance healthcare capacity and improve access to eye care across the continent.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 110 million people in Africa suffer from vision impairment, with cataracts causing 6.7 million of these cases. The crisis is driven by a combination of factors, including limited healthcare access, a shortage of trained eye care professionals, and various socioeconomic challenges. These issues have led to a backlog of cataract surgeries, leaving millions at risk of preventable blindness.
Jan Landman, Country Manager and Surgical Head for Alcon, expressed concern about the scale of the issue, stating, “It’s saddening to know that one in every six blind people live in Africa, along with millions of others struggling with visual impairment. Alcon’s commitment to addressing these challenges is at the core of our African PD Program. Our goal is to improve healthcare capacity through action-driven collaborations and training.”
Over the past year, the African PD Program has trained 61 eye care professionals. By 2029, Alcon aims to train more than 450 specialists to serve patients across the region. The company is also collaborating with Orbis International to ensure a sustainable and long-term impact on eye care in Africa.
Dr. Hunter Cherwek, Vice President of Clinical Services and Technologies at Orbis International, praised the program’s collaborative approach. “This initiative is a perfect example of the power of partnerships. No single organization can tackle Africa’s eye care challenges alone. It is only through collaboration—leveraging expertise and shared resources—that we can address the needs of millions suffering from preventable blindness.”
Since its inception in 2008, Alcon’s Phaco Development Program has trained over 6,900 surgeons in phacoemulsification techniques, enabling more than 11 million sight-restoring surgeries across countries including China, India, Russia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and South Africa. Through these efforts, Alcon continues to strengthen healthcare systems and make a lasting impact on the fight against blindness worldwide.
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