The Southeast region of Nigeria, it has been revealed, habours the highest low vision, glaucoma, cataract and other eye defect prevalence in the country. This is more than other regions in Nigeria, the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, OSN, stated.
OSN revealed that the high prevalence in the region, was not because of environmental factors. But because the region has the lowest intervention rate more than any other part of the country.
This was disclosed by the Society during its 49th Annual General Meeting and 48th Scientific International Conference, ongoing in Enugu.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, the President of OSN, Dr. Abiola Oyeleye said that the Society has over 700 Ophthalmologists in Nigeria.
Oyeleye noted that the most common cause of blindness through Cataract was age. He added that the Society was educating people on how to take preventive measures.
In his contributions, a former President of OSN, Prof Sebestine Nwosu concurred with the findings that the Southeast has he highest prevalence. He stated that it was true that the South east has the highest rate of not just glaucoma, but also prestrous segment. This, he said, is because of genetic factors which the people in the south east are prone to.
Nwosu said, “The best way to tackling it is by creating awareness, to ask people to go for examination. When people present themselves early, they will be examined and the disease will be controlled. This is because now there are many powerful drugs that are used and when it’s recalcitrant, surgery comes in.
“The most important thing is to spread the news that glaucoma runs in families. Anybody who knows relatives of one with glaucoma should come for eye check in any of the hospitals that have Ophthalmologists. Very importantly, do not put medicines that will destroy your eye. This is because some of them destroy the optic nerve and make your matter worse. Do not put things in your eyes such as urine, breast milk or kerosene,” Nwosu advised.
Also corroborating other speakers in the disclosure, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the conference, Prof Nkiru Akariwe said the prevalence in highest in the Southeast.
She said, “The southeast zone has the highest prevalence of low vision. It also has the highest prevalence of glaucoma in the country. And has the highest prevalence of prestrous segment diseases and causes of blindness.
“It’s much of a genetic thing but for some other causes, there have not been much of intervention. Like non-governmental intervention in the South Eastern part of the country. It’s not about environmental factors,” she said.
The Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia stated government’s intervention strategies. He noted that the State Government has been doing some health interventions in the state in it’s one year of administration.
In support of the Governor’s position, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof Ike Obi noted that the state government has been supportive of Opthalmology practice in the State. He noted that the Government has through it’s teaching hospital supported the Society.
Obi maintained that Government also hopes to make Opthalmology practices available in it’s State University of Health and Applied Sciences at Igboano.
source: Vanguard
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