Essilor and BHVI to collaborate on Malawi public/private partnership

Essilor and the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) have joined forces on a long-term public/private partnership and opened a new vision centre in Lilongwe, Malawi to provide accessible and affordable eye care to rural Malawians.

The partnership, entitled 'A Sustainable Vision Care Model Project' aims to transform the state of eye health in Malawi and develop existing government infrastructures by establishing over 50 vision centres in public hospitals by 2019 which will be managed by the Malawi Ministry of Health.

The project will also encompass human resources development, outreach and health promotion as well as research and advocacy.

‘Ninety per cent of the Malawian population lives in rural areas, with 55 per cent estimated to be living below the poverty line,’ said Professor Kovin Naidoo, deputy CEO of BHVI. ‘This means that private eye care is out of the reach of the majority of the population. Early detection and the appropriate visual correction would make life more comfortable for millions of Malawians.’