Muhammad Garba
A global donor partner working around eye health care known as CBM in collaboration with the Jigawa state government has launched a “Comprehensive, Inclusive Eye Health Project” to tackle the high rate of blindness in the state.
Speaking during the launching of the project, the state Governor Malam Umar Namadii Sa’id, the intervention is timely and will go a long way in complementing the effort of the state government in improving eye health and general healthcare services delivery in the state.
The governor who was represented by Secretary to State Government Alhaji Bala Ibrahim expressed the government’s determination to give all necessary support and cooperation for the success of the project.
In his speech, the CBM Country Program Manager Mr. Chris Ogoshi said, the program was introduced and aims at improving the eye health of the population.
He noted that according to the survey, the prevalence of blindness is increasing by age from 0.8% at 40-49 years to 23.5% between 60-90 years among the population in Nigeria.
Mr. Ogoshi, however, revealed that a survey has shown that, Cataract was responsible for 45 percent of visual impairment and blindness while Glaucoma constitute 43 percent, which maintained that all can be tackled with appreciative and effective medical care and public enlightenment.
According to him, under the project that will be implemented for 41 months, they will champion the integration of eye health into the governance of health services in the state.
“The project will raise awareness on the causes of eye problems and we’re to seek appropriate medical services, the medical services will also make to be available and accessible for all.
“We will work to strengthen the professional capacity of eye care workers and other auxiliary staff through training and re-training.
“We will also provide medical equipment, medicine, and other required intervention for achieving the desire goals,” Ogoshi stated
