Rwanda has a population of 10 million. Following the genocide of 1994, the county is in the process of rebuilding its infrastructure.

In accordance with WHO’s Vision 2020 initiative, Rwanda has a national eye care programme. There are 8 trained ophthalmologists and 4 undergoing training. There is no training programme in country. Studies in 2006 document just over 3,000 cataract operations performed in Rwanda, against an estimated need of 25,000.

Right to Sight currently has three projects in Rwanda

1. National Eye Care Plan

Current Status

• In March 2008 RTS is coordinating a workshop with key organizations and govenment to guide development of a new national eye care plan.
• Those involved include Dr. Innocent (Minister of State for Health), the National Blindness Coordinator, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) currently working in eye care and experts from RTS collaborating organizations, Aravind/LAICO and L.V. Prasad

RTS Objectives

• To establish a new national eye care plan.
• To agree upon roles and responsibilities for each of the NGO’s in country.
• To more than triple the Cataract surgical rate to 10,000 per annum by 2010.

2. CHUK (Central Hospital University Kigali)

Current Status

• RTS has identified Central Hospital as a collaborating partner with great potential and a dedicated ophthalmologist.
• RTS will work with Central Hospital to enhance the capacity of the unit, transforming it into a high-volume and high-quality eye care clinic.

RTS Objectives

• To expand the training of all existing staff at the hospital.
• To build the Cataract surgical capacity to 3,000 and out-patient visits to 30,000 per annum.
• To establish the hospital as a referral centre for Rwanda.

3. Partners in Health (PiH)

Current Status

• Partners in Health & the Clinton Foundation are developing model district health care services at Rwinkwavu, in Eastern Rwanda.
• RTS will bring eye care services to a PIH hospital without an eye care clinic.
• RTS will work with PIH to conduct a needs assessment for the hospital in Spring 2008.

RTS Objectives

• To train primary health workers in the awareness and identification of eye diseases in the district.
• To establish cataract operations and refraction at the hospital.
• To achieve 2,500 cataract operations and 20,000 outpatient visits in the district in the year 2009.