Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has been commended for making funds available for the free cataract surgeries in the capital city.
Secretary for Health and Human Services in the FCT, Dr. Abubakar Tafida, the commendation today, October 16, when he accompanied the minister on a visit to the Asokoro District Hospital Eye Clinic as part of activities marking World Sight Day.
According to him, the Secretariat, in collaboration with some of its partners, carried out 500 free cataract surgeries in the FCT as part of the World Sight Day activities.
The Secretary expressed worry that one in every 25 Nigerians has a form of eye problem or the other, even as he stressed the importance of good eye care.
He praised the minister for prioritizing health issues in the FCT and for making funds available for the 500 free cataract surgeries.
Dr. Tafida called for the creation of awareness to encourage Nigerians to take good care of their eyes and inform them about the availability of free and affordable eye care services.
This was even as the minister, Musa Bello called on residents to take eye health very seriously and love their eyes in line with the theme of the 2022 World Sight Day (WSD).
The Minister, who had his eyes checked during his visit to the clinic said that the eyes were amongst the most important organs bestowed on the human being by God and called on all to take good care of them.
Musa Bello said that he has been wearing glasses since 1982, adding that he takes personal care of his checking his medicated glasses and use of eye drops all the times.
“I certainly love my eyes and I call on everyone in the FCT to also love his or her eyes because without eyesight you are constrained in your ability to optimally function”
He commended the services at the Asokoro District Hospital Eye Clinic, describing it as top class with efficient personnel and optimal equipment.
The Minister who was presented a copy of the National Eye Policy by a board member of the IAPB, Dr. Fatima Kyari, directed that it should be domesticated in the FCT.
Also speaking during the visit, the Medical Director, Asokoro District Hospital, Dr Uche Afiomah, described the hospital as a centre of excellence for eye care in the FCT, adding that doctors from the hospital also visited communities in the FCT to carry out free surgeries for those who could not afford them.
She stated that capacity building and residency programmes are being implemented to domicile the skills of ophthalmologists, in addition to other enlightenment programmes to encourage members of the public to take care of their eyes.
The World Sight Day is a day set aside by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to draw global attention to eye health.
