From Nicholas Dekera, Kaduna

As part of activities to mark this year’s World Sight Day celebration on Thursday, the National Eye Centre Kaduna has commenced free eyes screening and treatment targeting about 1000 students, staff and others at the Federal Government College Malali Kaduna.

Fielding questions from Newsmen yesterday at the College, the Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Patricia Ella Idoko, said the decision to visit the school was influenced by this year’s theme for World Sight Day which is “Children, Love your Eyes”

According to her, there was an increasing number of blinding conditions in Nigeria, with a majority suffering from poor eye vision.

She added that the outreach is a form of community service with efforts geared towards the prevention of blinding conditions amongst Nigerians especially Children.

“Today’s outreach is one of the activities lined up to commemorate World Sight Day which comes up every second Thursday of October.

“We are on eye screening outreach to Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna and we are starting with the junior secondary classes first. We have a Target to cover the numbers despite how many they are, including the teachers.

“This year’s theme for World Sight Day is Children, Love Your Eyes, so yes our pick is in line with the goals because majority of them are 18 years old and below.

Earlier the visiting Team gave talks to the students on how to love their eyes by protecting it from harmful objects such as brooms, pencils, biros and others.

Eye screening tests were also carried out to ascertain the state of their eyes and prescribe medications or lenses in necessary cases.

“We had a small talk with the students on how to love and protect their eyes by avoiding sharp objects to the eyes. Objects such as biro, sharpened pencil, brooms, and others like rubber rings or a finger into the eye should be avoided.

“So in case the students or teachers have a complaint about the state of their eyes like itching, redness and others, it will be duly attended to by those screening them.

“Everything is geared towards the prevention of blindness because if somebody is blind, it’s like the world is void, only darkness around.

“These children are young and full of potential, so if we work towards protecting their eyes, they can achieve their dreams in life.

“But once it is hampered by blindness, it affects others too because someone will have to guide them and lead them all through their lives and it’s not a good thing.

In Nigeria, according to her, the record keeps increasing and about 450 million persons are living with poor vision, worldwide. “That means 1/12th of the World’s population have some form of blinding condition.”

She disclosed that the major causes of blindness include Cataract, glaucoma, retina or macular disease, retinal detachment, infection and trauma caused by accidents, noting that most of the causes of blindness can be prevented.

Patricia who is a Physician streseer that the main goal of the outreach is to see the children to ensure that any child having any eye condition that needs attention, can be checked and taken care of before it gets to the blinding state.

“Some have itchy eyes due to allergies; some are asthmatic or have family history relating to eye issues, so we came with oral medication and eye medications to take care of them.

Then those that have bacterial or fungi infection of the eyes, we also brought medications for them. Some have operable conditions like childhood cataract.

There are children who are born with congenital cataract while some are caused by trauma. But all these are operated, we can put a new lens and the child can see again.

“We have talked to them about the harmful use of objects around the eyes from the start and before they leave, we will talk to them about the introduction of harmful medications or other ointments to the eyes,” She said.