By Juma Nsubuga

The ministry of Health has appealed for scholarships for medical students  interested in eye care treatment in order to address the shortage of the eye specialists in the country.

While launching the Child Eye Health Program today, Minister for health Sarah Opendi said that the country needs eye specialists that would help in managing eye problems.

Minister Sarah Opendi

She also appreciated partners for supporting Eye treatment camps for the last 10 years.

Opendi noted that there is a need for joint efforts to give training support for more doctors to specialize in this field to supplement the small number of orthopedists in the country.

Meanwhile Standard Chartered Bank Head of Corporate Affairs Herbert Zake revealed they have a campaign worth US.D.6.25 million to be implemented in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to focus on eye health for children below the age of 15 years.

Zake says that the primary aim of the project is to reduce the percentage of avoidable blindness and visual impairment among children by promoting child eye health in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.