World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October, is a global event meant to draw attention on blindness and vision. There is a different theme every year, with many of those who mark the Day taking the opportunity to both celebrate achievements to date and advocate for increasing attention towards eye care. This year World sight day was observed on 10th October with the Theme Vision First. It is seen as one of the most important communication and advocacy events on the eye health calendar.
According to Nigerian National Blindness and Visual impartment survey it’s been estimated that 4.25 Million Nigerians aged above 40 years have moderate to severe visual impairment and according to World Health Organization 80% of serious visual loss is treatable if discovered early.
The main aims of World Sight Day include:
- To Raise public awareness of issues surrounding blindness and visual impairment.
- To influence Governments and Health Ministers to participate in blindness prevention programs
- To educate about blindness prevention.
Across the world, events include seminars, donation drives rallies and awareness events will be conducted. Tulsi Chanrai Foundation Eye Hospital, Abuja arranged an Awareness Exhibition on Eye Health on the eve of World Sight Day. The exhibition happened on October 10th & 11th, 2019 in the Hospital premises. This exhibition educated the general public & students on the ways to prevent eye diseases and safeguard eye health. The Exhibition provided valuable information on the causes, effects and treatment options for various eye diseases and disorders. The symptoms and treatment procedures of these problems was displayed through various eye models and posters. The Eye Exhibition at the TCF Eye Hospital was inaugurated by the Minister of Health ably represented by the Director MoH, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo on 10th October.
Many school children and lay public attended the exhibition and the TCF Eye Hospital team and volunteers from Teaching institutions helped explain the concepts.
