By Joke Adeniyi-Jackson
As the globe celebrated World Sight Day last Thursday, the Chairman Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, Kwara State Chapter, Dr. Jaiye Adido, has revealed that about 4.2m Nigerians are currently suffering eye problems.
The World Sight Day is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of October. For this year, the Day was commemorated on the 11th October, with the theme: ‘Eye care everywhere and for everyone and Cataract Blindless; Which Way Forward?
The Day sought to spread awareness and focus attention on global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment.
Featuring on a monitored Radio Kwara Programme; Your Health and You, last Thursday, the Consultant Ophthalmologist, decried the growing number of people suffering from avoidable eye conditions.
The Managing Director, Mercy Eye Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State while speaking on this year’s theme called on government to show commitment towards eye care services.
He charged government at all levels to make eyecare service affordable and accessible to both urban and rural dwellers.
This, according to him would help reduce the rate of blindness in the country from eye defects such as cataracts and glaucoma which could be handled if presented early to the hospital.
He said according to the theme, eye care everywhere, it is possible to have eye services everywhere especially in the rural parts of the country.
He advised people to seek medical attention from professional eye care providers and not quacks when they feel discomfort in their eyes in order to prevent blindness.
The expert urged Nigerians to always have their eyes checked regularly by ophthalmologists in approved hospitals in order to prevent eye defects.
He expressed sadness that blindness for many could have been prevented if they had presented their cases to the hospital early.
Speaking on essence of the celebration,the opthalmologist stressed that the Day is meant for advocacy and educating Nigerians on the importance of taking care of their sight the same way they take care of all their other body parts.
