Eye Centre tasks students to protect their eye from harmful objects to avert blindness

By, Nicholas Justus, Kaduna

The National Eye Centre Kaduna has commenced free eyes screening and treatment targeting about 1000 students, staff and others at the Federal Government College Malali Kaduna.

The Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Mrs Patricia Ella Idoko, who spoke to newsmen said the decision to visit the school is influenced by this year’s theme for World Sight Day which is “Children, Love your Eyes”

According to her, there’s an increasing number of blinding conditions in Nigeria, with a majority suffering from poor eye vision.

She added that the outreach is a form of community service with efforts geared towards the prevention of blinding conditions amongst Nigerians, especially Children.

“Today’s outreach is one of the activities lined up to commemorate World Sight Day which comes up every second Thursday of October.

“We are on an eye screening outreach to Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna and we are starting with the Junior secondary classes first. We have a Target to cover the numbers despite how many they are, including the teachers.

“This year’s theme for World Sight Day is Children, Love Your Eyes, so yes our pick is in line with the goals because majority of them are 18 years old and below.

Earlier the visiting Team gave talks to the students on how to love their eyes by protecting it from harmful objects such as brooms, pencils, biros and others.

Eye screening tests were also carried out to ascertain the state of their eyes and prescribe medications or lenses in necessary cases.

“We had a small talk with the students on how to love and protect their eyes by avoiding sharp objects to the eyes. Objects such as biro, sharpened pencil, brooms, and others like rubber rings or a finger into the eye should be avoided.

“So if any of the students or teachers have a complaint about the state of their eyes like itching, redness and others, it will be duly attended to by those screening them.

“Everything is geared towards the prevention of blindness because if somebody is blind, it’s like the world is void, only darkness around.

“These children are young and full of potential, so if we work towards protecting their eyes, they can achieve their dreams in life.

“But once it is hampered by blindness, it affects others too because someone will have to guide them and lead them all through their lives and it’s not a good thing.

In Nigeria, according to her, the record keeps increasing and about 450 million persons are living with poor vision, worldwide. “That means 1/12th of the World’s population have some form of blinding condition.”

She disclosed that the major causes of blindness include Cataract, glaucoma, retina or macular disease, retina detachment, infection and trauma caused by accidents, noting that most of the causes of blindness can be prevented.

“This exercise is like a community outreach to address the high rate of blindness because prevention is better and cheaper than cure and this is a way of preventing blindness for these children.

Mrs Patricia who is a Physician streseer said that the main goal of the outreach is to see the children to ensure that any child having any eye condition that needs attention, can be checked and taken care of before it gets to the blinding state.

Expressing satisfaction about Eye Centre’s commitment to Eye care, the students of the school King Alabi Williams Oluwashinaola and Olivia Igwuezi called for sustainable health care for school children stressing that the economy has limited the ability of so many people from prioritizing health care.