As Nigerians mark World Sight Day, National Eye Centre Kaduna on Thursday offered free eyes treatment to 200 patients and donated 200 reading glasses.
Speaking to the patients who were predominantly members of the National Automobile Technician Association (NATA) popularly called mechanics, the Chief Medical Director, National Eye Centre Kaduna Dr. Mahmoud Alhassan who was represented by Dr. Murtala Mohammed Umar said ” as we know the WHO marked the second Thursday of every October to be World Sight Day the day that thebworld remembers the important of eye health, promotion eye health, blindness control, and the rest of it.”my
“So the National Eye Centre is collaborating with partners, we are here in Panteka which is just a neighborhood of National Eye Centre to conduct free eye screening, today we will be examining the eyes with the little things we have here , and there will be drugs for minor ailments which will be distributed free, then there will be reading glasses about 200 that anybody who needs it will also benefit free, and most importantly those who have major ailments that will need to be referred to National Eye Centre, will be referred and will facilitates their attendance at the National Eye Centre.
” Now the theme for this year is Love Your Sight At Work. And you’ll all agree with me that Panteka here which is mainly a mechanic base, they are prone to mechanical injuries, they use alot of tools, some of them are welders, light are going into their eye or so the work we started was with the creation of awareness”
Umar maintained that there is provision for atleast two hundred patients and about two hundred reading glasses for free distribution.
He charged the beneficiaries on use of appropriate glasses and safety measures for the eye.
Responding, the Chairman National Automobile Technician Association Comrade Adau Abubakar thanked Eye Centre for their efforts in bringing the World Sight Day celebration to Pantaker and checking their eye, offering free reading glasses to them and enlightening the public.
Earlier, during the Health talk, the World Sight Day Committee Chairman Dr. Raji Lukman said “Eyesight is undoubtedly one of the most valuable senses we possess as it enables us to carry out our daily tasks with ease, perceive our surroundings, and work efficiently.
However, the nature of your profession puts you at a higher risk of developing eye-related issues.”
According to Dr. Lukman the hazard that automobile mechanics/technicians are prone to in relation to their eyes are Eye injuries from flying debris, Chemicals burns, Intraocular foreign bodies.
He however pointed that prevention can be done by taking precautionary measures like Safety Glasses, use of face Shields or Goggles, Proper Lighting,
Proper Storage of Tools and regular visitation to hospital for eye check-up.
