The National Ministry of Health in South Sudan has launched a five-year strategic plan to improve eye care services across the country. The plan, which runs from 2026 to 2030, aims to strengthen the health workforce and expand efforts to prevent and treat avoidable vision loss. This initiative was announced on Thursday, October 9, 2026, during the commemoration of World Sight Day in Juba.
According to Director General for Medical Services Alier Ngok Deng, South Sudan continues to face a high burden of preventable blindness. He reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to strengthening eye care services in public health facilities across the country. The government is working with partners to expand eye care outreach services across different parts of the country.
The five-year strategic plan will focus on improving access to quality eye care services and strengthening the health workforce. Deng emphasized that the country needs to address challenges hampering progress in strengthening eye care services. He called for continued support from partners to help the government achieve its goals.
Francis Odor, Country representative of Christian Blind Mission (CBM), welcomed the launch of the strategic plan and training curriculum. He said these initiatives marked important steps towards strengthening South Sudan's eye health system and bringing services closer to communities. Odor emphasized that improving eye health requires more than clinical services.
Odor stressed the need for strong government leadership, a skilled workforce, adequate resources, community awareness, early detection and referral, as well as accessible and inclusive services for persons with disabilities. He reaffirmed CBM's commitment to working with the government and other partners to strengthen inclusive eye health services and reduce avoidable blindness.
Central Equatoria State Minister of Health, Rina Rina Donga, called for stronger eye care services, particularly at the primary health care and community levels. She urged communities to promote eye health from an early age and seek timely medical attention whenever eye problems are identified. Donga emphasized the need for early treatment to prevent eye problems from worsening.
The Ministry of Health's initiative aims to expand affordable and accessible eye care services, particularly in underserved communities. The launch of the National Eye Care Strategic Plan 2026-2030 and the new curriculum for training Ophthalmic Clinical Officers are seen as crucial steps towards achieving this goal.
Key points
- The Ministry of Health has launched a five-year strategic plan to improve eye care services in South Sudan.
- The plan aims to strengthen the health workforce and expand efforts to prevent and treat avoidable vision loss.
- The initiative has been welcomed by partners, including the Christian Blind Mission, which has reaffirmed its commitment to working with the government to strengthen inclusive eye health services.
