A critical shortage of working medical equipment is severely impacting eye care services in Lesotho, leaving over 1,000 patients waiting for crucial surgeries at the Maseru District Hospital.

The main issue stems from a broken microscope at a key hospital, which is essential for complex procedures like cataract and glaucoma operations.

An Ophthalmologist, Dr. Wenjun Fan, speaking about the challenges, confirmed that more than 1,000 patients were booked in for eye surgery before his suspension. However, these operations are being delayed because the microscope needed for detailed procedures is broken.

Fan said the broken microscope is vital for treating conditions like cataracts and glaucoma. While simpler surgeries for conditions like squint can sometimes proceed without the microscope, the majority of complex cases are on hold.

Fan stated that they had previously informed the management about the broken microscope lens, but it had not been fixed for six months.

The general eye situation in Lesotho is described by Fan as “very bad.” Glaucoma, a condition where high eye pressure damages the optic nerve and causes blindness, is particularly prevalent.

He said, Glaucoma is common in patients over 20 years old in Lesotho. The genetic risk for glaucoma is noted to be “very high” compared to other racial groups, such as white or Asian people.

The issue of limited equipment extends beyond the main hospital. While other hospitals like Mafeteng Hospital and Motebang Hospital have microscopes, these are often not fully utilised.

He said the microscope at Motebang Hospital is only used for one week a year by an American team, and attempts by him to transfer it for more regular use were unsuccessful.

A National Eye Program, which used to bring equipment and services country-wide, has been inactive since before COVID-19.

He indicated that the inability to perform timely operations due to poor management and broken machinery is causing immense suffering for patients across the country.

He indicated that in Lesotho, there are nurses trained on basic eye screening, while there are few doctors to perform surgeries if needed, and they are expensive, so some people cannot afford them. 

The Lesotho National League of the Visually Impaired Persons (LNLVIP) has joined the outcry, expressing deep concern over the deteriorating situation. Jeremane Teele, President of the LNLVIP Executive Board, confirmed that the waiting list at the Mohloli-oa-Bophelo Training and Rehabilitation Centre already exceeds 100 people.

“Failure for early prevention, limited screening, and no access to treatment has resulted in many people being permanently blind,” Teele stated. He noted that even when the government offers services, they are often so slow that by the time a patient reaches their surgery date, the damage to their eyesight has already become advanced and irreversible.

As the hospital management and the medical staff remain at odds, the LNLVIP is calling for better collaboration and urgent intervention to save the sight of hundreds of Basotho who are currently being failed by the system.

Kekeletso Motanyane, the Public Relations Officer for Maseru District Hospital, has moved to reassure the public, stating that the eye department remains operational. According to Motanyane, trained nurses are still seeing patients and managing cases within their expertise.

For cases that require a specialist, Motanyane claimed the hospital has referral measures in place. “In such cases, we refer patients to facilities where there are eye doctors, including our tertiary hospital, QMMH (Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital),” she said.

• He said the microscope at Motebang Hospital is only used for one week a year by an American team, and attempts by him to transfer it for more regular use were unsuccessful.
• He noted that even when the government offers services, they are often so slow that by the time a patient reaches their surgery date, the damage to their eyesight has already become advanced and irreversible.
• As the hospital management and the medical staff remain at odds, the LNLVIP is calling for better collaboration and urgent intervention to save the sight of hundreds of Basotho who are currently being failed by the system.

Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.

In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.