Over 24m Nigerians are blind—DUFUHS VC

The Vice Chancellor, David Umahi, Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Prof Josse Uneke, on Thursday said that an estimated 24 million Nigerians have sight loss due to health implications, saying that if urgent steps are not taken quickly, more Nigerians will lose their sight.

Uneke said this at the university campus in Uburu Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State during the official flagg-off of an Eye Centre by the Wife of the governor of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwifuru.

He noted that eye conditions are common and it is a well-known fact that those who live long enough will experience at least one eye condition during their lifetime.

Uneke noted that according to the World Health Organization, globally, at least 1 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.

He maintained that cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors are estimated to be the leading causes of vision impairment and added that age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, long-standing systemic conditions like diabetes causing diabetic retinopathy, infectious diseases of the eye and trauma to the eye are all causes of vision impairment that should be addressed.

The Wife of the governor of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwifuru, noted that no society will progress meaningfully if such society neglects the importance of quality healthcare delivery.

She stated that her pet project, Better Health for Rural Women and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO) has done tremendously well in stepping down healthcare delivery to the people, especially those in the rural areas, urging all Ebonyi residents to use the centre.

Nwifuru thanked the university for the breakthrough, promising that Ebonyi government will continue to partner with the school in their quest to deliver quality learning.