MORE than one million Nigerians are blind and another 3.1 million are visually impaired, a national survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health has revealed. The survey also revealed that at least 75 per cent of such blindness is avoidable.
The survey, which was conducted between 2005 and 2007, also revealed that the scourge of blindness was a problem afflicting male and female, as well as all parts of the country.
The survey revealed that the highest number of blind people is in the NorthWest geopolitical zone with 320,000 blind people. The NorthEast has 220,000 while 180,000 people are blind in NorthCentral. South West has 150,000 blind people. The SouthEast has 120,000 while the SouthSouth also has 120,000.
The national survey also revealed that there was no significant difference between the prevalence of blindness among men and women.
There is also no significant difference between the prevalence of blindness between urban and rural communities in Nigeria. The conclusion of the survey on this score is that eye care facilities are not better in the urban centres than in the rural areas.
The survey revealed that 50 per cent of blindness was caused by cataract while glaucoma accounted for another 16 per cent. Other major causes of blindness are muscular degeneration and reflective errors.
According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness in Nigeria, about 50 per cent of Nigerians suffering from eye ailment will have their sight fully restored by the use of glasses. Another 15 per cent will have their sight restored by surgery.
The details of the survey have spurred many non-governmental organisations, international agencies and the Federal Ministry of Health and major stakeholders in eye health care delivery to collaborate for a massive sensitisation programme on eye care during the World Sight Day for this year which comes up on Thursday.
The National Programme for the Prevention of Blindness is targeted at sanitising Nigerians to the scourge of blindness, in accordance with the World Health Organisation which has declared October 9 of every year as World Sight Day.