The Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has called on Nigerians to routinely check the health status of their eyes to mitigate the scourge of blindness and eye related illnesses.
The call was made by the Amirah of IMAN Sister’s Forum, Doctor Maryam Ali, at a one-day outreach, marking the World’s Sight Day, themed: “Love your eyes at work,” held Sunday in Jos.
“Our health scheme behaviour is generally, very bad; not to talk of the eyes. So, because of this, we are encouraging people, whether they have problem or not, to check,” Dr. Maryam said.
She stated that it is better for the people to check, in order to stop the risks of being blind.
Dr Maryam said the target was only for medical workers to be tested and treated, but more than a hundred people, including this report, benefited from the outreach.
An ophthalmologist, Dr Fatima Umar, whose facility was used for the outreach said they deemed it very important to also render on the general public the free check off, eye glasses and vaccines where necessary.
“Our people have this feeling in mind that I can see clearly well. The fact that you can see well does not mean that your eye is healthy. It is only when you check that you can know that it is healthy,” Dr Halima said.
A beneficiary, Abdulfatai Lukman, appreciated Sister’s Forum for the free outreach, adding that he was consulted for free, besides having some vaccines for his eyes.
Blueprint correspondent, Muhammad Tanko Shittu, also benefited from the, “free diabetes test, counseling, sight test and was offered reading glass.”
