World sight day 2017. Make vision count by Barr Emeka Okeke

Free eye screening and treatment at Obeoffia community by Barr Emeka Okeke to mark world sight day in  october 2017

Speaking on the theme ;  Make vision  count    The  Enugu state commissioner for labour and productivity Barr Emeka Okeke explained that ability to see clearly is crucial for human security and productivity. 

“This my community. What is happening is that the Ophthalmology Dept of ESUT teaching hospital Parklane Enugu  in collaboration with Novartis a multi national phamaceutical company is carrying out outreach programme to attend to people with eye problems. Try to identify such problems and give treatment. To make vision count means that eyesight is important to humans. If your have eyesight, you can carry on with your activities. A person without good eyesight is a liability to his family.

" It’s a big challenge. So that is why it’s necessary to make vision count. Security is improved when you can observe your environment.                           I thank the participants and my people for coming out en-masse to embrace this initiative and benefit from the services”.

In her remark the head of Ophtalmology Dept. ESUT teaching hospital, Parklane Enugu.              Dr Ifeoma Asimadu explained that good vision contributes to quality way of living. 

“ We are witnessing free eye screening in Obeoffia Awkunanau to commemorate the World sight day 2017. We examine visual quality, front and back of the eye and check eye pressure. Because there are disease condition that affect front of eye and another category that affect back of the eye.      As we know the eye is the window of the body, so through that window we look in to the whole.    You can’t perform without good eyesight,            And so we try to prevent blindness to make sure that vision counts for everyone".

Since blindness is an obstacle to human security. Regular eye checkup should be conducted to protect our vision. A consultant Ophtalmology in ESUT teaching hospital Parklane Enugu                Dr Sukhaniah Okeke throws more light on this. 

“ Annually we celebrate World sight day in October. we are conducting outreach in various parts of the state but we decided to reach out to the rural areas to enable them benefit like urban areas. The aim is to create awareness about common eye problems that cause blindness.    Like cataract, gloucoma, refractive era, hypertensive and diabetic retina parting and harmful practices that give rise to eye problems. Having done that we are examining people for eye care and treatment. We address their different  individual problems.

She continues " Also we are giving them free medication, free drugs, free eye drops and free glasses. We are taking note of people that need eye surgeries for referral to hospital. No matter how small you can  see, it’s valuable because blindness is a burden. We should take care of the Eye because it is a super special sense organ given to us by God for our benefit. I thank Novartis pharmaceutical company for contributing to this programme”.

Some of the beneficiaries of the free eye screening and treatment expressed their gratitude. 

Engr. Sunday Nwobodo. “ I feel so happy.                I commend the commissioner and his wife for the tremendous work on our behalf”.  

Chizoba Ogbodo “ I came to benefit from free eye treatment. I am gratefull for the assistance. May God bless them”.

 Ndidiamaka Nwobodo “ it’s a very good eye  checkup programme. Doctors are giving treatment to the old, young and children.          They diagnosed me and I got glasses to improve my sight. So I am happy and I thank them for the gesture”. 

Mrs Ogechukwu  Arum. " I received treatment with medicine, eye drops and glasses. I am gratefull.     I thank them for helping me”. 

Responding Barr Emeka Okeke urged them to practise healthy habits to protect and sustain their vision.