World Sight Day: Experts Warn against Harmful Traditional Practices, Patronising Quacks in Eye Care

Experts in Eye health have made a strong call against all forms of harmful traditional practices against the eyes and patronising quacks in accessing eye care.

The call came at a symposium, organised by the Abia State Government to commemorate this year’s World Sight Day on the theme, “Love Your Eyes, Vision for All,” in Umuahia.

Speaking at the event, Abia state Governor, Alex Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Enoch Uche, called for collective action to promoting eye health.

Otti explained that his administration prioritises health care and welfare of Abians, evidenced by the reforms in the sector, from infrastructural rejuvenation to human resource upgrade, and improvement in the remuneration of healthcare workers.

“What is being done today is to get to the point where we take action collectively to ensure that both individually and communally, we safeguard the eye health of our people and prevent blindness,” Otti stated.

He noted that eye health is gradually being taken to the grassroots and appreciated the role of the Abia State Eye Health Management Bureau and the State Ministry of Health in that regard.

In her speech, the Administrator of Abia State Eye Health Management Bearua, Dr Betty Emeka-Obasi said that her office has been addressing the eye challenges of Abia residents, with the support of Governor Alex Otti.

Mrs Emeka-Obasi urged Abia residents to examine their eyes regularly at government equipped hospitals than using herbal remedies or running to religious homes.

In a Keynote address, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Federal University of Technology, (FUTO), Owerri Professor Emmanuel Esenwah warned Nigerians against running to religious homes for eye treatment or buying eye drops from quacks when they experience eye problems.

Esenwah said patients should rather approach qualified eye care professionals in government hospitals.

He also warned against the use of breast milk in treatment of eye problems in some communities, which he said, exposes the eyes to more harms than providing solutions.

The Professor of Optometry and former National President of Nigerian Optometric Association, called for early and regular eye examinations to detect eye problems early enough before they became late.

He also called for free screening, distribution of free glasses in schools and communities, to protect the children and elderly population, even as he said that welders, carpenters and timber workers handling saw dust.

The event featured panel of discussants by medical professionals and free eye screening, free eye glasses and counselling to over 400 patients.