By The Respondents Reporter
The government has intensified efforts to strengthen children’s eye healthcare services across the country through new investments, national treatment guidelines and expanded screening programmes aimed at eliminating childhood eye cancer and preventable blindness.
Speaking during the national commemoration of Childhood Eye Cancer Awareness Week for Retinoblastoma in Dodoma on May 15, 2026, Dr. Eliud Eliakim said the government was prioritising early diagnosis and timely treatment to save children’s lives and eyesight.
Dr. Eliud, who represented the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Grace Magembe, said the Ministry of Health had already issued national guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of childhood eye cancer, alongside primary eye healthcare guidelines to help health workers identify symptoms early and refer patients for specialised treatment.
The event was held at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital as part of national awareness activities that began on May 10, 2026.
He said the government is implementing a five-year project valued at TZS4.8 billion targeting children in Singida, Tabora, Arusha and Manyara regions during the first phase.
“The project aims to strengthen screening and treatment services for childhood eye diseases while enhancing prevention of avoidable blindness,” Dr. Eliud said.
He noted that global statistics show one child is born with retinal cancer in every 16,000 to 18,000 live births, stressing that the disease can be cured if detected and treated early.
Health sector data show that 902 children with eye cancer received treatment at various health facilities in 2025, compared to 184 children treated in 2024, reflecting improved awareness, screening and access to care.
Dr. Eliud urged development partners, health stakeholders and communities to continue supporting government efforts to improve children’s eye health services and ensure all affected children receive quality treatment on time.
Meanwhile, the Director of Preventive Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Hamad Nyembea, said more than 2.5 million children under five years were screened at primary healthcare clinics, with 290,960 found to have eye-related complications.
Among those diagnosed, about 39 percent suffered from non-communicable eye conditions, including eye injuries.
Dr. Nyembea said the increasing burden of non-communicable eye diseases among children calls for greater investment in specialised healthcare services.
He added that the government is continuing to work closely with stakeholders to strengthen referral systems and expand access to specialised and super-specialised eye treatment services across the country.
