Nigerians have been urged to go for regular eye checks and take charge of their eye health to avoid blindness.

Doctors and other health professionals, as well as participants who gave the advice, during a two-day free eye care outreach at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Yaba, noted that early detection of eye defects would go a long way toward preventing blindness.

The outreach was sponsored by the hospital, in conjunction with a United States-based non-profit organisation, Gift Health Plus (GHP) Incorporated, founded by Dr Chamberlain Nwanne.

Medical Director of the FNPH, Yaba, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, who also had his eyes examined at the event, told newsmen that the programme was part of the federal health institution’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as many people find it difficult to access care.

An optometrist, Dr Chukwemeka Achimnole, described the initiative as laudable, urging everybody with eye issues to take advantage of the programme.

He stated: “It is a very good initiative for us to try to come around to screen those that have one or two ocular issues because as an optometrist, my main line of focus is ocular eye health. So, I am here to screen some patients to see if they have any pathological or refractive condition. We will take care of refractive conditions, but refer pathological issues to the nearest hospital.

“Everybody should take their eye health seriously. Go for routine check every year. If you have any underlying health issue, please visit any clinic or any facility to take care of your body and your eye health issues because the eye is very delicate to the body. It is the window to the body.”

Also, a GHP Director at the event, Chika Achibiri, said the main goal of the programme was to reach the most vulnerable: the people that have little or no help.

“We majorly do medical missions in the prisons and some other government facilities. These are people who don’t have real access to Medicare. So, this is free. We’re not charging money for this. Most of the medications and other things we use are donations majorly from the U.S.

“Last week, we were at Aba, Abia State. After this, we are going to Kano. Sometime last year, we were at the Kirikiri correctional facility for the women. We were also at Mbaise, Imo State. We are planning another one for the men later in the year. We do about 10 programmes in a year,” Achibiri said.