15,000 PEOPLE GO BLIND YEARLY IN NIGER STATE,NIGERIA.

FIFTEEN thousand people become blind annually, in Niger state, commissioner of health and  hospital service, Dr, Ibrahim Sule, has said.

The commissioner said a recent blindness and low vision survey conducted in the state showed that another 15,000 people needed cataract surgery.Sule spoke yesterday in Minna,at the MTN Foundation Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme in the six health zones in the state. The commissioner said the state government is doing everything to arrest the situation, adding that it needs the support of private organizations and individuals to make this a success.

Declaring the program open Governor Babangida Aliyu said at least 30,000 patients suffering various eye ailments received free treatment in the state between 2007 and last year. Giving a breakdown of the situation through the Secretary to the State

FIFTEEN thousand people become blind annually, in Niger state, commissioner of health and  hospital service, Dr, Ibrahim Sule, has said.

The commissioner said a recent blindness and low vision survey conducted in the state showed that another 15,000 people needed cataract surgery.Sule spoke yesterday in Minna,at the MTN Foundation Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme in the six health zones in the state. The commissioner said the state government is doing everything to arrest the situation, adding that it needs the support of private organizations and individuals to make this a success.

Declaring the program open Governor Babangida Aliyu said at least 30,000 patients suffering various eye ailments received free treatment in the state between 2007 and last year. Giving a breakdown of the situation through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),Alhaji  Saidu Ndako Idris,the governor said over 5,000 patients had cataract surgery, while another 5,000 received reading and sight glasses.

The governor added that the rest were treated of different eye problems.Aliyu explained that to attend to the increasing number of people with eye problems,a committee on prevention of blindness was set up by his administration, while a detailed programme to drive the state eye project has been put in place.

A director of MTN Foundation,Mr,Akinwale Good luck said at least one million Nigerians  and another 3.1 million are reported to be living with one form of visual impairment or the order. He said:’ these prevent them from effectively conducting their daily activities’.

Government (SSG),Alhaji  Saidu Ndako Idris,the governor said over 5,000 patients had cataract surgery, while another 5,000 received reading and sight glasses.

The governor added that the rest were treated of different eye problems.Aliyu explained that to attend to the increasing number of people with eye problems,a committee on prevention of blindness was set up by his administration, while a detailed programme to drive the state eye project has been put in place.

A director of MTN Foundation,Mr,Akinwale Good luck said at least one million Nigerians  and another 3.1 million are reported to be living with one form of visual impairment or the order. He said:’ these prevent them from effectively conducting their daily activities’.