Coco-bassey Esu|13 October 2016
Ministry of Health partnered with International Association of Lions Club, Region 4 & 5 of Lions District 404 A 2 on their International Lions Day being 8th October to carry out advocacy and communication events on the eye health. World sight Day is actually on 13th October which is today, but activities to mark the day began on the 8th of October.
During the period of marking world sight day, the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation and Lions Club International carried out free vision screening, eye health education, free eye surgeries, donations of eye glasses and assistive device to those with vision impairment.
The success story was made possible by the fact that partners will work together to bring the Diabetes community, the irreparably blinds, vulnerable groups, including those with other disabilities associated with eye defects.
KEY MESSAGES
– Approximately, 285 "million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness.
-Of these, 35 millions people are blind and 246 millions have moderate or severe visual impairment.
-90% of blinds live in low income community.
-Yet 80% of visual impairment is avoidable.
-Restoration of sight and blindness prevention are among the most cost effective interventions in health care.
-An estimated 19 million children are visually impaired and we will concentrate on them this year.
Coco-bassey Esu
Writes from Calabar
