10/18/2024
Improving Sustainable Eye Care in Zambia: A Collaborative Effort by IEF and Orbis International
From September 9th to 15th, 2024, IEF had the opportunity to work with Orbis International/ Zambia to begin a process to enhance the quality, sustainability, and management of eye care services at two public hospitals in Lusaka. The aim, led by Raheem Rahmathullah, IEF, was to update existing data, set targets for improving healthcare services, and identify key partners for future projects.
The IEF/Orbis/MOH teamwork focused on two key institutions: the Eye Department at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital (LMUT) and the Autonomous Eye Hospital at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) holding meetings with ophthalmologists, nurses, and hospital administrators throughout the visit to align priorities and assess the infrastructure, equipment, patient flow, and administrative services.
The team examined key areas such as staff capacity, patient demand, quality of treatment, and collaboration with Zambia’s Ministry of Health and local NGOs. Through daily observations and a final debriefing, we identified challenges and gathered feedback to guide future improvements.
The assessment highlighted the important need for action, particularly in upgrading infrastructure, equipment, and patient management processes. Collaboration paves the way for short-long-term strategic planning, ensuring that Zambia’s eye care services become more efficient and sustainable. This visit was made possible at the request of Lucia Nadaf, Orbis with the additional support of Ruth Nswana, Elton Moyo, and Enock Nsokolo from the Orbis Zambia office. ,
