Achieving universal optic health coverage remains priority – FG
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the World Sight Day, the federal government has revealed that achieving universal optic health through universal health coverage remains its top priority.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting organized to mark the World Sight Day with the theme: “Vision first, beyond vision 2020’’ in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said that the federal government through the ministry of health intends to achieve this by improving public awareness about optic health.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abdullazizi Abdullahi, the minister said that its core target include people with disabilities, children, women, the unreached and under-served who he lamented are usually left behind when issues of health are discussed.
“The National Strategic Health Development Plan 2018-22 guides national and sub national governments on health sector priorities, identifying multi-sectoral collaborations that address social determinants of health against the backdrop of health related sustainable development goals.
‘’The maiden edition of the National Eye Health Policy 2019 developed in context and agreement with the national health policy provides a framework for collective scale up for eye care service delivery at all levels including child eye care. It advocates pro-motive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services,’’ he said.
Speaking, President of the Opthalmological Society of Nigeria, Dr, Bade Ogundipe, advised Nigerians to imbibe the habit of undergoing regular eye screening for early detection of eye diseases, especially those with family history of glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.
Read Also: Border Closure: Nigerians groan as prices of staple food items skyrocket by 65%
Dr. Ogundipe revealed that early detection through regular and complete eye examination is crucial to protecting vision from damage caused by glaucoma.
“Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the optic nerves, gradually damaging the fibres in an irreversible manner till blindness occurs, if no intervention is undertaken. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world.
“Glaucoma has no cure and many people don’t know that they have it. It is only when they undergo free eye screening exercises that they often discover it.
“Glaucoma is referred to as the silent thief of sight. This is because it slowly damages the eye and causes irreversible loss of vision to the sufferer. So, glaucoma can be avoided if the disease is discovered early,” he added.
The eye specialist said to beat invisible glaucoma in the country, Nigerians should walk into any eye care standard facility and have their eyes evaluated or checked for glaucoma.
