An estimated 24 million Nigerians are affected by vision impairment, with the number expected to rise unless urgent interventions are made, according to Professor Josse Uneke, Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu.
Uneke made this statement on Thursday during the inauguration of an Eye Centre at the university’s campus in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The project was launched by Ebonyi State’s First Lady, Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwifuru.
Citing data from the World Health Organization, Uneke said at least 1 billion people globally suffer from preventable or untreated vision impairments. He identified cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors as the leading causes of vision loss, alongside conditions such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, infectious eye diseases, and trauma.
Mrs. Nwifuru stressed the importance of accessible healthcare, stating that no society can progress without prioritizing medical services. She highlighted the impact of her initiative, the Better Health for Rural Women and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO), which aims to expand healthcare access, particularly in rural communities.
She urged Ebonyi residents to take advantage of the newly established Eye Centre while assuring continued support from the state government to DUFUHS.
