3.2m Nigerians go blind for lack of knowledge – expert

Daniel Anthony, an eye specialist at the St. Mary’s Catholic Eye Specialist Hospital, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state has disclosed that over 3.2 million Nigerians are currently suffering from various eye disorders due to lack of knowledge and information as regards blindness.

Speaking at an eye care intervention organised by Yinka Mafe Foundation in Sagamu local government area of the state during the week, Anthony blamed the condition on ignorance, poverty and lack of access to medical facilities.

He said, “There are primarily three reasons why people are unnecessarily blind, the first is ignorance of various eye disease and various medical interventions that are accessible to them, the second is the inaccessiblity to eye care facility, and the third one is actually poverty.

“And I am happy to tell you that unknown to Mafe himself, he has actually addressed all the three factors, we do health care talks, he has also brought us to his people on various areas, and on the cost of treatment, he has just given it to them free of charge.

“It is a project that seeks to reduce the risk of avoidable blindness in the community which is eventually being done and sponsored by Hon Yinka Mafe. We’ve had people coming out to do things for the community, this is not te first time but I must say this is eventually coming out on a larger scale that an individual will do,”

But, Yinka Mafe, a lawmaker representing Sagamu state constituency I who sponsored eye screening, surgery and eye glasses distribution for over 2,000 people with eye defects in the local government, urged people in the corridor of power and the rich to extend helping hands to the needy and patients that suffer any health challenges.

“As you can see, my people are in need of eye care and I decided that I want to give back to the society even if it is little and that is why we are doing this today, we organise a free eye screening for our people and I am happy that about 2,000 of them turned out in the whole of Sagamu local government because we had 3 centres.

“Of these 2,000, we have done screening for them and now we have selected those who require surgery, those that require glasses and those that only requires drugs, we’ve given out the drugs but today, we decided to be giving out glasses and the surgery has just started, I am just coming out of the theatre.

“This is a project that is very close to my heart and that is why I am investing in it, I believe it is not just stomach care that should be done, eye care is also needed, we should forget about politicians saying we have to give people money, they’ll appreciate this better than giving them money, it is part of dividend of democracy,” the lawmaker said.

One of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of others, Isiaka Okunoren said he had not been seeing with his left eye, saying he was at the center for surgery after he got information from his Mosque.

Okunoren, who revealed that he had earlier approached Sagamu Teaching Hospital but could not afford a medical bill of N40, 000 requested, urging other people in government and outside the government to extend helping hands to the needy.

RAZAQ AYINLA