The Ministry of Health is striving to enhance training programs for eye care professionals, including establishing new teaching centers outs...
The Ministry of Health is striving to enhance training programs for eye care professionals, including establishing new teaching centers outside Kigali. Rwanda currently has around 30 ophthalmologists spread across public and private facilities, which equates to about two specialists per million people. As part of these new training initiatives, district hospitals in Nyamata and Ruhengeri are being upgraded to function as both treatment centers and comprehensive training hubs, equipped with modern ophthalmology units. Additional locations are planned in Gisenyi, Kibuye, and Kirehe, aiming to bring eye care and training closer to the population. “Rwanda still encounters a shortage of specialists in advanced areas such as retina and pediatric ophthalmology. Developing these subspecialties requires bringing in full-time experts, either Rwandan or international, who can provide care and train residents. These skills are rare, and when someone commits to teaching and working full-time in Rwanda, it comes at a cost,” stated Dr. Menelas Nkeshimana, Head of the Health Workforce Department at the Ministry of Health. ALSO READ: Eye health: The importance of early diagnosis and treatment Increasing rates of diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are driving up the demand for eye care. According to the Ministry of Health, approximately 16.8 percent of Rwandans have hypertension, and nearly 3 percent live with type 2 diabetes. NCDs now account for almost 48 percent of all registered deaths, based on the latest national vital statistics. ALSO READ: Transforming eye care in Rwanda: Expert shares insights on the country’s plans to improve vision health “Diabetes and high blood pressure are leading to more vision problems in the country. People with diabetes often experience eye complications, and as the population ages, cataracts are becoming more serious. If left untreated, cataracts not only blur vision but can also lead to falls, injuries, and additional strain on families and the health system,” noted Dr. Nkeshimana. He added that most ophthalmologists are located in the main hospitals of the country, leaving nearly all of the 57 district and provincial hospitals without a full-time eye specialist. “Each hospital needs at least two, meaning many communities have limited access to eye care. Replacing retirees, addressing staff turnover, and preparing for a population that could reach 30 to 50 million make the challenge even more urgent.” He pointed out that the ministry's "4x4" strategy, which aims to quadruple the health workforce within four years, is providing support to ophthalmology training. Under this initiative, the residency program, which previously admitted only two trainees annually, enrolled 11 in its first year. Current ophthalmologists are now mentoring and training the next generation of specialists. Dr. Nkeshimana emphasized that tomorrow’s specialists cannot be trained without senior doctors who are fully present, highlighting that postgraduate training requires full-time dedication throughout the year. He mentioned that upgrading infrastructure and equipment is equally crucial, as many hospitals still lack modern microscopes, multi-head systems, and other essential diagnostic tools needed for quality training. He explained that multi-head microscopes allow residents to observe procedures without disrupting the surgeon. While the ministry covers residents’ salaries, development partners provide support for faculty, infrastructure, and equipment. “One of the newest partners is Cure Blindness Project, which has joined the 4x4 programme to support ophthalmology training. Effective partnerships must collaborate rather than operate in isolation, delivering measurable results such as producing accredited ophthalmologists, training the first retinal surgeons, and expanding specialized services that were previously unavailable,” he said. Cure Blindness Project is a global nonprofit that helps people retain or regain sight by building local capacity and offering training and equipment. “We are engaged in Rwanda, supporting the country’s efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness. We have supported training residents in ophthalmology here for some time, helping them access regional exams at College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA). Now, we see an opportunity to work more closely with the Ministry of Health, particularly on its 4x4 plan,” said K-T Overbey, Chief Executive Officer of Cure Blindness Project, in an interview with The New Times. She noted that the organization is collaborating with local partners to support Rwanda’s eye health services. Partners include Fred Hollows Foundation, University of Rwanda, Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO), and Rwanda Ophthalmological Society (ROS), all focused on improving access to quality eye care across the country. Despite progress, Rwanda still faces a shortage of eye care specialists, and Cure Blindness Project is helping by training doctors, subspecialists, ophthalmic nurses, and ophthalmic clinical officers (OCOs), Overbey added. Dr. Menghis Bairu, Vice Chairman of Cure Blindness Project, said cataracts, which cause 55 percent of blindness in Rwanda, remain a concern, noting that the NGO plans about 300,000 cataract surgeries worldwide this year. He noted that the focus is on working with local teams to expand access, provide essential equipment, and tackle challenges such as patients' difficulty reaching clinics and limited public awareness. “The organization also brings expertise in corneal care through its merger with SightLife (a non-profit global health organisation solely focused on eliminating corneal blindness). Rwanda is fortunate to have leading cornea specialists, such as Dr. John Nkurikiye, co-founder of RIIO, but more training is needed. We will support training and partnerships to ensure people receive the corneal care they require,” he explained. Bairu noted that Rwanda has a strong foundation and a clear plan. He explained that the approach uses a train-the-trainer model, with experts working alongside local ophthalmologists, nurses, and primary care staff to accelerate the implementation of the national plan.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
