Lagos State Government has joined the rest of the world to declare the third Saturday in September of every year as a day for persons with the Usher Syndrome; a genetic disorder that causes blindness and deafness.

The state, through the Office for Disability Affairs, said that the declaration forms part of policy of inclusion of the state government towards ensuring that no one is left behind, including persons with disabilities.

General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, who spoke during a meeting with some persons with usher syndrome at the agency’s office in Ikeja, said that the rare genetic disorder, which currently has no known cure, is preventable and it affects the three sensory organs of sights, hearing and balance.

Oyetunde-Lawal said that the state government had always been practical concerning issues relating to people with disabilities, stressing that the T.H.E.M.E.S. Plus developmental agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is all-inclusive in this regard.

She said: “Millions of people are affected by this genetic disorder worldwide, with the larger incidence occurring in the developing nations of Africa and Asia as a result of mass ignorance and a severe lack of genetic testing and counselling facilities.

“Mass ignorance and inadequate technical know-how and necessary equipment have resulted in a noticeable rise in the incidence of the condition in the regions of Africa and Asia.

“The need, therefore, becomes important to ensure prevention of the syndrome, which has adverse effect on the health, academic and general well-being of the affected individuals.

“The usher syndrome community has advocated for the third Saturday in September every year as an international day on which all nations and states can join efforts to create awareness about the condition with the aim of halting its advent and possibly making it history, thereby reducing the future incidence of deaf-blindness worldwide.”

She enjoined well meaning Nigerians to avail themselves of the available knowledge of usher syndrome and join hands to safeguard the health and general well-being of generations yet unborn, as well as to work for the academic, health and all-round inclusion of affected citizens with deaf-blindness in the society.

Also, the Executive Director, Lion Heart Foundation, Segun Okelola, while commending LASODA and the state government as the first state to recognise the ushers’ syndrome, noted that the declaration is a significant landmark in the fight against the onslaught of the deaf and blind condition

Okelola said that with the declaration and support of the state government through LASODA, more people would get to know about the condition and people with the condition would be given the full impetus to achieve their human potential for self-actualisation without let or any hindrance.