The Kogi State government in collaboration with Sightsavers Nigeria has developed a strategic plan to sustain eye health services towards the elimination of avoidable blindness in the state.
Gov. Ahmed Ododo stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the close-out ceremony of the Sightsavers project tagged: “Kogi State Eye Care Programme.”
Ododo noted the success of the programme in the state, adding that the strategic plan would enable them to sustain the programme towards improving the eye health care of the people.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adeiza, Ododo assured the timely release of the blindness prevention vote in the approved state budget, as well as the judicious utilisation of funds in the sustainability account.
“Sustainability is a plan even before now as there have been some funds generated from services given to some patients and the funds over the years are being kept for this purpose of today.
“And the state government, who have been very passionate about the health in Kogi have been supporting the health sector sustainability plan.
“There is already an MoU being drafted, which will make us work effectively and we are strategising and planning on sustainablility of this programme so that we will have continuous eye health programme in the state.
“Also our health insurance scheme has the component of eye health that is giving free eye health services for the people in the state,” he said.
Also, the Country Director, of Sightsavers, Dr Joy Shu’aibu said they have been working since 2018 towards the elimination of avoidable blindness, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, women and PWDs in the state.
“We have been able to develop an eyecare strategic plan that we hope the state can use as a roadmap to measure their progress, guide their work, to ensure that they are also able to advocate to the government to provide required funding.
“And the political will to ensure that the people who have an eye problem will be able to access eyecare at an affordable cost.
“All of this is to ensure that nobody goes blind from a cause that can be avoided and for those, who are already blind to ensure that they have equal accesd to health, work and education,” she said.
Shu’aibu added “We have examined an average of 14,000 people across the areas where we have worked.
“We have dispensed approximately 8,000 spectacles. We have refracted about 10,000 people.
“We have offered life-changing cataract surgeries to several people in Kogi state and other related eyecare surgeries, amongst others.”
Also, the Chief Medical Director, of Kogi State Hospital Management Board, Dr Ayo Olayemi, said through the programme, they have been able to form a team, comprising other ministries like education to provide eyecare services for school children.
“They have mentored us and we now work as a team in collaboration with other ministries like education to go those schools, gather the children and screen them for their eyesight,” he said.
Representatives of the benefiting communities, faith-based organisations and MDAs, expressed satisfaction over the successful implementation of the programme in the state.
By Justina Auta
