More than 500 delegates from Africa and around the world are expected to converge in Nairobi this week from June 4th to 6th for the 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE KENYA Conference.
This will be an international forum focused on advancing eye health, innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness.
In a press release today, ahead of the Conference, Acting Head of the Eye Health Section at the Ministry of Health, Dr Monicah Bitok, said the Conference presents an opportunity to accelerate progress towards universal access to eye health services.
The Conference will bring together policymakers, healthcare leaders, researchers, development partners, innovators and advocates to discuss strategies for expanding access to quality eye care and strengthening collaboration in addressing vision impairment and blindness.
“Kenya has made important progress in reducing blindness, but preventable vision impairment remains a significant public health challenge. Conditions such as cataracts, refractive errors, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy continue to affect health, education and economic productivity,” said Dr. Bitok.
She noted that the Conference will provide a platform to strengthen partnerships, showcase innovation and promote solutions aimed at improving access to eye care services.
Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in Kenya, accounting for nearly half of all blindness cases. An estimated 9.6 million Kenyans live with refractive errors, while about 15,000 children are affected by preventable or treatable vision loss.
Delegates will deliberate on key issues including workforce development, healthcare financing, service delivery, digital transformation and strategies to address the growing burden of eye diseases linked to non-communicable conditions.
The role of Artificial Intelligence, digital health technologies and tele-ophthalmology in improving diagnosis, expanding access to specialist services and strengthening eye health systems, particularly in underserved communities, will also feature prominently in discussions.
The meeting comes as Kenya continues to scale up eye health services amid growing demand.
According to the Ministry of Health, about 30 per cent of the population requires eye care services to prevent vision impairment or blindness. While the prevalence of blindness has declined from 0.7 per cent in 1990 to 0.37 per cent in 2023, challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to timely and affordable eye care.
The Conference aligns with Kenya’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and is expected to position Nairobi as a regional hub for dialogue, collaboration and innovation in eye health.
Organisers say the event will be among the largest eye health conferences ever hosted in the region, underscoring Kenya’s leadership in advancing innovative and sustainable health solutions.
Last year, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), rolled out the SPECS 2030 initiative to expand effective vision and refractive error coverage.
By Wangari Ndirangu
