Association demands subsidised treatment of eye ailments in Nigeria

Association demands reduced treatment of eye ailments in Nigeria

NAN-HG-6

Treatment

By Yashim Katurak

Abuja, March 14, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) on Tuesday called for subsidised cost of treating eye challenges in the country.

Dr Ozy Okonokhua, a member of the association in FCT, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Okonokhua was speaking on the sidelines of the celebration of the World Glaucoma Week (WGW) being commemorated on March 12 to 18, with the theme: “Beat Invisible Glaucoma’’.

He said that with the high cost of eye treatment in the country, the association resolved to provide free screening and treatment for persons in rural communities to reduce the financial burden on them.

Okonokhua said the intervention was becoming increasingly difficult to handle by the organisation, hence the need for the public, government and stakeholders’ support.

“What the association does from time to time is to conduct screening exercises in rural areas because this are the people who have little or no access to eye healthcare, so we take care to them at their community.

“In as far as glaucoma is concerned because of the cost implication; it is not what the association can do alone because glaucoma cannot be treated but rather managed throughout one’s life time.

“This means that there is need for follow-up, continues treatment and tests. One cannot say that he or she has treated glaucoma once and that is all.

“As an association we are not able to completely provide help to people on our own especially at the grassroots level, so we need all stakeholders to partner with us to achieve this,” Okonokhua said.

He said that the association would not relent in its efforts to create awareness and help in diagnosing the condition especially at the early stages to improve the chances of recovering.

The optometrician said the association was conducting free eye screening for all FCT residents at all eye clinics and government hospitals for one week.

“We are conducting free glaucoma screening at all eye clinics in the FCT from 10 a.m to 2 p.m throughout the World Glaucoma Week, which is holding from March 12 to 18.

“Some of the hospitals and clinics include Asokoro District Hospital; National Hospital; Garki Hospital; University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada; Rachael Eye Center, Garki, and State House medical centre, Asokoro.

“Others are Fortress eye hospital, Zone 1; Havillah eye hospital, Jabi; Modelcare hospital eye clinic, Garki; and the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, among others,” he added.

According to Okonokhua, the best way to protect one’s sight from glaucoma is to have the eyes tested.

NAN also reports that glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases where vision is lost due to damage to the optic nerve.

Generally there are no symptoms or warning signs in the early stages of this eye condition.

The loss of sight is usually gradual and a considerable amount of side vision may be lost before there is an awareness of any problem. (NAN)

KRY/OIF/MST

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola