About 700 people have undergone eye surgery in Machinga district, Heart to Heart Foundation has disclosed.

Country Director for the foundation Boyce Nyirenda disclosed that trachoma is a big problem in Machinga.

Trachoma, an eye infection affecting both eyes, is the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness

Nyirenda said since 2015 the foundation has saved many people from trachoma in the district.

“Heart to Heart Foundation and other stakeholders have made substantial success here in Machinga. We have supported eye surgeries to 781 people,” he said.

Nyirenda urged government to train more eye specialists and improve access to safe water in order to deal with the problem.

Nyirenda said during this year’s World Sight Day commemoration in Machinga on the global theme: “keep vision count”.

He said the commemoration was one way of sensitising communities on to care for the eyes by following good hygiene practices.

In his remarks Machinga District Health Officer, Dr Arnold Kapachika commended stakeholders on their efforts in fight against trachoma.

Dr Kapachika advised people to go to hospital when they have eye problems to receive treatment in good time.

Heart to Heart Foundation is working in 165 primary schools in Machinga through a four year Trachoma Elimination Project.