Bwari: Some residents of Bwari in the FCT have benefited from the Federal Government’s free eye glass initiative, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. NAN reports that the initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Health, with support from partners, including the Area Council, aims to tackle presbyopia in adults aged 40 and above, in the community.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr Ehiemere Goodluck, Programme Manager, Eye Care Unit, FCT Public Health Department, explained that the initiative was a continuation of President Bola Tinubu’s distribution of five million pairs of glasses to Nigerians. The initiative, tagged ‘Effective Spectacle Coverage in Nigeria-Jiji Bola Phase II’, seeks to check, identify, and screen adults for presbyopia, an inability of the eye to focus on nearby objects due to aging. Goodluck noted that once individuals are checked, they receive reading spectacles tailored to the power of their eyes.
The programme, which was launched in FCT in March, in Abaji, highlights the government’s commitment to improving eye health and ensuring that Nigerians take proper care of their vision. Goodluck stated that the programme was successfully carried out in Abaji, AMAC and was ongoing in Bwari, with plans to simultaneously extend across all six area councils of the FCT. She mentioned that the initiative had already covered Bwari town, Dutse-Makaranta, and Dutse-Alhaji, with plans to move to Mpape Community soon.
Goodluck encouraged all residents who meet the criteria to participate in the screening and take advantage of the free glasses being provided. Hajiya Saadatu Mustapha, a beneficiary, lauded the initiative but expressed her expectations for a more thorough procedure to ensure potential severe visual challenges are identified and referred for further medical checks.
Another beneficiary, Mr Thomas Auta, expressed excitement as he had difficulty reading for a while and couldn’t afford a pair of glasses, describing the initiative as a ‘divine intervention’. Similarly, Mrs Mary Peter expressed gratitude for the outreach, thanking the government and its partners for making it possible for the aged in the communities to access necessary spectacles to aid vision, especially for those above 50 years.
