By Bunmi Yekini
Alcon, the global leader in eye care, celebrated the first anniversary of its African Phaco Development Program (PD) this week, highlighting its achievements in improving access to eye care in South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia. The program, which aligns with Alcon’s commitment to “Skill Africa, by Africa, for Africa,” has trained 61 eye care professionals in its first year and aims to expand further across the continent.
Speaking at the event, Jan Landman, Country Manager and Surgical Head for Alcon, emphasized the importance of tackling Africa’s cataract burden. “It’s saddening to know that one in every six blind people live in Africa, along with millions of others who are grappling with some degree of visual impairment. Our African PD Program is changing this narrative by building healthcare capacity through training and collaborations,” Landman said.
Landman noted that the program aims to train over 450 eye care professionals by 2029. “With purposeful partnerships, like the one with Orbis International, we are making sustainable progress toward addressing Africa’s backlog of cataract surgeries,” he added.
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in Africa, responsible for 6.7 million cases of vision impairment, according to the World Health Organization. The continent faces a significant shortage of trained eye care professionals, leaving millions at risk of preventable blindness.
Dr. Hunter Cherwek, Vice President, Clinical Services and Technologies at Orbis International, praised the program’s collaborative approach. “This program is a perfect example of what happens when people come together. It highlights the true impact of action-oriented partnerships. No single organization can tackle the challenges facing eye care across Africa. Collaboration is key to addressing the needs of millions suffering from preventable blindness,” he said.
Since its inception in 2008, Alcon’s Phaco Development Program has trained over 6,900 surgeons worldwide, contributing to an estimated 11 million sight-restoring procedures.