|
|
|
|
| National |
| 200 cataract persons see in Mangochi |
|
by
Aubrey Mchulu, 09 October 2003
-
18:29:53
|
Two hundred persons suffering from cataracts have had their sight restored this week in Mangochi courtesy of the World Sight Day Commemoration campaign.
Sight Savers International (SSI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population, organised the week-long eye camps in the district from Monday to commemorate this year’s World Sight Day which falls on October 9 annually.
In her speech, Deputy Health Minister Elizabeth Lamba, who was guest of honour, said Malawi has 100,000 blind people and many more have visual impairments due to reflective errors and low vision.
Lamba said half of the 100,000 blindness cases are caused by cataract and that every year about 10,000 more people become blind due to the same cataract.
She said 80 percent of the blindness cases are preventable and curable.
SSI Malawi Country representative Abigail Suka said last year SSI restored sight to 5,000 people and expects to restore sight to 6,000 this year nationwide.
In his remarks, Health and Population Secretary Richard Pendame said Mangochi, the Lower Shire Valley and other hot areas have a high risk of eye infection cases hence the function was held there to raise awareness.
Pendame also said there are fears that if countries of the world do not take necessary steps to check the problem, the global figure of 45 million blind people will almost double to 100 million by the year 2020.
During the week-long eye camps, eye specialists visited villages in Mangochi, where they carried minor treatments while complex ones were operated on district Health officer George Chithope Mwale. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
