In commemoration of World Sight Day, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jabi has conducted free eye screenings for children in the Kuchingoro community of Abuja.
The Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at FMC Jabi, Dr Maryam Abdullahi, announced that the hospital would also provide free eyeglasses to 100 underprivileged children in the area.
World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October, aims to raise awareness about blindness and vision impairment. The theme for the 2024 World Sight Day is “Children, Love Your Sights,” highlighting the importance of eye health among young individuals.
Dr. Abdullahi emphasised that this year’s event is focused on educating the community about the importance of proper eye care for children. The screening targets children aged 5 to 17, with a special focus on those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
She stressed the critical need for early eye care in children, explaining, “Every child should have an eye examination by the time they reach school age.” She further added, “For this year’s event, we are concentrating on underserved and underprivileged children in our surrounding communities. Many of these children live close to our facility but face barriers to accessing care.”
The initiative aims to screen at least 600 children, with free eyeglasses provided to those in need. Dr Abdullahi also urged compassionate Nigerians to support children’s eye health, noting that ideally, children should have their first eye examination around the age of three, in line with national standards.
She continued, “In other countries, routine eye exams for young children are common, but in Nigeria, such services are often lacking. We advocate for the availability, accessibility, and affordability of eye care for all children, regardless of socio-economic status. Every child deserves this care.”
One of the beneficiaries, Dickson Habakuk, expressed his gratitude to the organisers for providing eyeglasses and called for similar initiatives to be extended to more remote areas to reach underserved populations.
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