NGO constructs, equips eye centre in Plateau

An international NGO, Sightsavers, has established and equipped an eye center at the General Hospital Shenadam in Plateau.

Dr. Sunday Isiyaku, the country director of the organization, said that the gesture was aimed at reducing the spate of eye-related diseases among residents of the state.

Isiyaku said that the center was established in collaboration with the Christian Blind Mission (CBM), another international organization.

The country director explained that the absence of well-equipped facilities to respond to the myriad of eye-related medical conditions in the state necessitated the need for the gesture.

"Between 2005 and 2007, a National Blindness and Visual Impairedness Survey, targeted at people aged 40 and above, was carried out.

"That survey shows that in Plateau alone, over 4,000 people needed to have some form of cataract surgery, which is the most available cause of blindness, and 15 years after that survey, it is only natural that the number is now higher."

"This suggests why we decided to have this intervention by not renovating this building provided by the state government but setting up and equipping this center with state-of-the-art facilities that will address the rising cases of eye problems, especially in the southern part of Plateau."

"So far, we have spent N70 million, but on the whole, we have earmarked N350 million for this project, and I want to assure us that this money will be invested towards providing quality eye care services to the people of Plateau," he assured.

The country director said that some of the modern equipment provided for the center included slate lamps, operating microscopes, and ecolometers, among others.

 Isiyaku, who disclosed that his organization had established similar centers in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kwara, and Cross River, promised to do more in the Plateau as the need arose.

He thanked the state government and other stakeholders for their deep commitment and support towards achieving the feat.

Inaugurating the center, Dr. Nimkong Lar, the Plateau Commissioner for Health, thanked the donors for the gesture, adding that it would allay the suffering of the people who traveled far distances to get their eye problems treated.

Lar, who decried the dearth of eye treatment centers in the state, described the intervention by Sightsavers as timely, adding that it was in line with the state government's policy on providing inclusive and affordable healthcare services.

"The major eye health services are available mainly in three health care facilities in the state, located in the northern and central zones of the state."

"The southern part, with an estimated population of 994,000 people, is without easy access to eye health services, and this necessitated the project we are inaugurating today."

"In line with our eye health policy thrust, the government is committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable access to quality eye care services, which can strengthen the health system to achieve universal eye health as part of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.

"So, this well-equipped clinic will henceforth make eye care services accessible and also reduce the risk of traveling to distant locations to access quality services," he said.

The commissioner advised the people of Shendam and environs with eye defects to promptly visit the clinic, adding that modern facilities and quality manpower had been provided to attend to patients.

He also appealed to the host communities to take ownership of the project and guard it jealously, adding that the longer the facility stayed, the better for all.

Mr. Omoi Samuel, the country program manager of CBM, said that the facility was persons with disabilities (PWDs) friendly, adding that no one would be left behind in the bid to rid the state of eye-related medical challenges.

He called on the management of the general hospital in Shendam to ensure proper maintenance of the facility to enable it to stand the test of time for the greater good of all.

Supreme reports that as part of the package, Sightsavers also renovated a two-bedroom apartment that would house the personnel for the center.

Supreme also reports that treatment had commenced at the center as over 20 eye surgeries were conducted.