By Palma Ileye
To commemorate the 2024 World Sight Day which comes up on Thursday 10th October, international development organisation Sightsavers has called for better access to eye health services for everyone from children to the elderly.
According to a press release issued by Sightsavers Communication Associate, Joy Tarbo to mark the Day, stated that vision problems don’t just affect the elderly, a common misconception.
The statement disclosed that everyone, at some point, needs support to maintain good eye health: to see the board at school, to drive and work, and for independence later in life. Yet eye health was a neglected area of healthcare, and people were struggling unnecessarily with avoidable blindness and vision impairment.
Sightsavers in the statement revealed that, “Eye health was as important for children, as it is for the elderly.”
Country Director at Sightsavers, Dr Joy Shu’aibu commented: “Two thirds of children and adults who require glasses to help them see clearly, do not have access to these glasses.
“The same can be said of other eye conditions like cataracts, (a condition children can be born with) where a significant proportion of people especially living in rural communities are unable to get the treatment they need.”
The Sightsavers statement disclosed that globally, there were 1.1 billion people who have an untreated or preventable visual impairment revealing that in Nigeria the numbers were similarly shocking.
It stated that in 2020 there was an estimated 24 million people with vision loss, and of these 1.3 million people were blind or have moderate to severe vision impairment from cataract or refractive error.
“This year for World Sight Day, Sightsavers is supporting several activities under the Plateau Inclusive Eye Health Programme. A comprehensive eye health initiative in Jos and Shendam will include screenings for up to 700 pupils, eye health education for teachers, and the provision of glasses.
“Roadshows and media engagements will raise awareness at state and local levels, with visits to the Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, health promotion officers will lead community campaigns, advocating to traditional rulers and local institutions. Additionally, a medical and surgical outreach is planned for Quanpan in collaboration with the state government and partners,” the organisation added.
Shu’aibu, continued: “These events celebrate the achievements made and raise awareness of the eye health crisis we face globally and in Nigeria. We have made great progress to meet the challenges, with governments, donors, decision-makers, NGOs, and other partners collaborating to improve access to quality and affordable eye health services for everyone.
“But big changes are still needed to make avoidable vision impairment truly avoidable. Across the world, the avoidable vision issues of cataract and uncorrected refractive errors, such as short-sightedness, are the leading causes of blindness and vision impairment respectively.
“Addressing the world’s eye health issues would cost just a sixteenth of the annual global productivity loss due to visual impairment. For example, having the right glasses could help people increase their earnings by a third, in turn boosting the economy. Yet, most people don’t have access to the glasses they need, and children with vision impairment in low- and middle-income countries are up to five times less likely to be in formal education, impacting their future prospects.
“The impact of eye health can be seen in Rabiatu from Zamfara. Rabiatu a vibrant four year old from Zamfara who recently underwent a successful cataract surgery transforming her world from blurry shadows to vivid colours. Beaming with joy after her bandages were taken off, she declared: “mama I can see.”
The Country Director concluded: “Many eye health interventions can be relatively small or straightforward, yet the impact can be life changing.
“In Nigeria and around the world people are gathering colleagues, friends, or items from work or home together to form as big an eye shape as they can, and sharing their #EyeCreation on social media, because we need big changes to address the global inequity of eye health.”
