By Teddy Daniel
Sightsavers says it is targeting at least one thousand people for eye screening in Kaduna State as part of activities marking the 2026 World Sight Day, with eye health stakeholders, specialists and partner organisations taking sensitization to communities in the state.
Speaking during the community outreach at Goningora of Chikun local Government area, Sightsavers Programme Officer for Eye Health, Barbara Anang Marok, said the organisation was deliberately extending eye health services beyond conventional locations to ensure more people have access to screening and early detection.
She said the exercise, which also covered the Kaduna State Geographic Information Service, KATGIS, was aimed at reaching different categories of people across the state.
“When we call people’s attention to eye health, it’s not just about community people; civil servants and government workers also need to know that eye checks are important,” she said.
The program officer stressed that Sightsavers is committed to partnering and playing it’s part in ensuring that eye related issues are given the necessary attention.
In his remark consultant Ophthalmologist and Senior Lecturer with Kaduna State University, Dr. Stanley Bulus, said between 500 and 700 people were expected to benefit from the community screening, while the overall target remained one thousand people.
He said the team comprised ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and other support staff, who were screening for conditions including cataract, glaucoma, eye infections, presbyopia and allergic conjunctivitis.
Dr. Bulus described glaucoma as a silent thief of sight, warning that many people may not realise they are losing their vision until significant damage has occurred.
He explained that while cataract is a reversible cause of blindness through surgery, early detection of glaucoma makes it possible to manage the condition and prevent further loss of sight.
Earlier in his remark,Chief of Gonin Gora, John Yusuf Sariki, commended the Kaduna State Government, Ministry of Health, Sightsavers and other partners for bringing the exercise to the community.
“I have been screened and given eyeglasses and medication for without sight, one cannot see, move properly and identify people ,” he said.
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Kaduna State Eye Health Committee, Dr. Fatima Mahmud, urged people to make eye screening a regular practice, recommending that everyone sees an eye care professional at least once a year.
She said many sight threatening conditions are silent and may not cause pain until serious damage has occurred adding that people should not wait until something is wrong with their eyes before going to the hospital.
Dr. Mahmud added that the Kaduna State Eye Health Programme has trained community eye health workers who engage rural communities, identify people requiring care and link them with appropriate health facilities.
She said the programme is regularly monitored through quarterly reviews to identify gaps and improve community eye health services.
This year’s World Sight Day, with the theme “Love Your Eyes,” featured a sensitization road walk attended by health stakeholders, eye specialists and relevant partners.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
