Leadership (Abuja)
10 October 2008
Blindness and low vision still remain high in Lagos State in spite of the government's efforts to reduce the trend, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, has said.
Idris made the pronouncement in Lagos at a news conference to commemorate the World Sight Day.
He said that report from the national survey on blindness and low vision, shows that Lagos State has the highest prevalence rate of blindness in the south-west zone with 3.6 million.
The commissioner blamed the development on the increasing number of old people and influx of those from other states.
According to Idris, 45 million people are blind the world over with 80 per cent of them over 50 years old.
Idris said that 75 per cent of world blindness could be prevented, cured or treated if handled promptly.
"Many age-relating blinding conditions can be simply and cheaply treated or cured and timely medical intervention can delay or reduce poor vision end results," he said.
Idris said that majority of blind people live in low-income countries, where they face many barriers in getting qualitative eye treatment.
The commissioner listed the commonest cause of blindness as cataracts, followed by glaucoma.
He also said that age-related macular degeneration and refractive errors also contribute significantly to the magnitude of low vision.
He stressed the commitment of the state government to give the elderly in the state qualitative medical treatment.
"Our senior citizens are important members of our families and societies, vision loss can make it more difficult for them to contribute their full potentials, the commissioner said.
He said that in line with government's policy of the care of the aged, free eye screening would be conducted for adults over 50 years in all Ophthalmic clinics in the state to the day. (NAN).
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