NGO renovates, equips eye centre in Plateau state

An international NGO, Christian Blind Mission (CBM), has established and equipped an eye center at the General Hospital Pankshin in Plateau state.

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Mr Rainer Braykhas, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the organisation, said during the inauguration of the centre in Pankshin, that the gesture was aimed at reducing the spate of eye-related diseases among residents of the state.

Braykhas said that the center was established in collaboration with the Sightsavers, another international organisation working to prevent avoidable blindness, supporting equality for people with disabilities and advocating for change.

The CEO 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 Impairment 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.

“15 years after that survey, it is only natural that the number is now higher.

“This explains why we decided to have this intervention by not only renovating this building provided by the state government but setting up and equipping the center with state-of-the-art facilities.

“This will address the rising cases of eye problems, especially in the central part of Plateau.” he said.

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

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

Inaugurating the center, Dr. Cletus Shurkuk, 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.

Shurkuk, who decried the dearth of eye treatment centers in the state, described the CBM intervention as timely and 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 central part 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 Pankshin 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.

Also, Mr Dominic Haslam, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sightsavers, said that the facility was persons with disabilities (PWDs) friendly.

He assured that no one would be left behind in the bid to rid the state of eye-related medical challenges.

Dr Otero Okolo, the Coordinator of the National Eye-Health Programme, commended CBM, Sightsavers and the Plateau Government for the initiative.

She also called the host community to take ownership of the project and ensure its sustainability.