Nigerians neglect their eyes health – Ophthalmologist

An Ophthalmologist has lamented that many Nigerians neglect their eye health, which according to her, is leading to many cases of blindness and other eye diseases.

Mary Ohanu, Practice Manager of Rachel Eye Centre, Abuja, while speaking at a free medical outreach organised by the Tiv Foundation for Good Leadership and Development at New Karu, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, at the weekend, urged Nigerians to endeavour to do regular eyes check.

“Nigerians are negligent about their eyes health. People don’t know how important it is to have their eyes in good condition. People neglect eye diseases and that is why there are many blind cases in communities, not only among adults, but also among children,” she said.

She said over 200 residents of the community accessed the services of the eye centre offered during the medical outreach, which included screening for eye diseases, provision of drugs for some uncomplicated cases and gifting of medicated eyeglasses.

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Earlier, the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Tiv Foundation for Good Leadership and Development, Barr. Terver Ayua Jov, said the charity, non-profit organisation is committed to impacting the lives of residents of its host community.

“We have observed that because of the harsh economic situation in Nigeria today, the less privilege cannot afford basic health services so we thought about it and decided to bring this programme here and we hope it will benefit the crowd here,” he said.

He added that the foundation would offer more interventions in the socio-economic space of the society going forward, while advising residents to pay attention to their health during these trying times of economic downturn.

President of the foundation, Mr. Eugene Igbudu, on his part, explained that the outreach was meant to promote the health, wellbeing and welfare of the members of the New Karu community.

He said apart from the eyes screening, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, which partnered with the foundation, also offered free blood sugar screening and HIV.

“For now we are offering light medication but for those who have serious cases, we will refer them to hospitals for further investigations and treatment,” he said.

Some of the beneficiaries of the medical outreach thanked the foundation for the free services that they accessed, saying with the current hardship it was difficult for them to go to the hospital even when they were critically ill.