Group canvasses better eye care for children, 24m visually impaired

Country Director for SightSavers Nigeria, Dr Joy Shu’aibu, has canvassed better access to eye care for over one thirds impacted Nigerian children, and the estimated 24 million persons suffering vision loss.

She stressed that eye health is important for children and the elderly, stating that they require good eyesight to function properly in school and life. Shu’aibu made the appeal while marking the World Sight Day, themed ‘Love Your Eyes’, in Abuja, where she underscored the importance of eye care for quality living.

Her words: “Most people don’t have access to the glasses they need, and children with vision impairment in low and middle-income countries are up to five times less likely to be in formal education, impacting their future prospects.
 
“Vision problems don’t just affect the elderly, a common misconception. Everyone, at some point, needs support to maintain good eye health: to see the board at school, to drive and work, and for independence, later in life.”

“Yet eye health is a neglected area of healthcare, and people are struggling unnecessarily with avoidable blindness and vision impairment. So at this World Sight Day, Thursday, October 10, an international development organisation, Sightsavers, is calling for better access to eye health services for everyone from children to the elderly.”