A rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) was conducted in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe from March to April 2016. This population based survey was organised by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, in collaboration with CBM, Zimbabwe Council for the Blind and the Community Eye Health Institute, University of Cape Town. The research was funded through Standard Chartered Bank, Seeing is Believing project. The aim was to assess the current situation on blindness and visual impairment in Manicaland. In this report, all data refer to the population of people aged 50 years or older, unless another age group is specified.
No national survey on blindness and visual impairment has been conducted in Zimbabwe before. Looking at the prevalence of blindness in neighbouring countries with similar health care infrastructure, population composition and socio-economic conditions, the prevalence of blindness in Manicaland in people aged 50 years or older was estimated at 2.7%.