Minister of Health Chheang Ra has urged the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) to broaden its eye care services across Cambodia and boost training and equipment provisions to ensure high-quality and safe services.

During an October 3 meeting with Jane Madden, director of the FHF, Ra expressed his gratitude for the foundation’s backing of the ministry’s National Program for Eye Health (NPEH), which has been pivotal in enhancing the quality of eye health services for Cambodians.

“Since partnering with the NPEH and the main capital and provincial health departments in 1998, the outcomes have been commendable,” Ra said.

The minister emphasised the need for the FHF to further extend its reach to other provinces and bolster the training of human resources, including ophthalmologists and glasses manufacturers.

He also suggested improving infrastructure for vision facilities and rehabilitation centres and incorporating advanced equipment and technology. This would aid cataract surgeries, community screenings and further research into eye-related issues.

Madden noted that FHF has spearheaded numerous projects, such as offering free surgeries for treatable eye diseases.

“The Foundation has also provided technical support in training… personnel both at the national and regional levels. We back the NPEH’s strategic objective of addressing and eradicating avoidable eye diseases,” she added.

Madden confirmed that the FHF will integrate the minister’s primary recommendations into an action plan, in order to enhance collaboration with the ministry and the NPEH.

The ministry has set forth the third National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Blindness 2021-2030. The project targets a reduction in the blindness prevalence rate to 0.35 per cent by 2030.