The Parrot News Jalingo
In commemoration of World Glaucoma Week, three organizations have taken eye health awareness to students in Jalingo, Taraba State, as part of efforts to curb cases of preventable blindness.
The Miradex Hope Initiative, in collaboration with the Nigerian Optometric Association (Taraba State Chapter) and Light Up Initiative Drive for Development, organized an outreach at Hassan Government Day Secondary School where students were engaged in an interactive session on glaucoma and general eye health.
The organizations, one of the beneficiaries of a grant from the TY Danjuma Foundation, educated the students on the causes, effects and dangers of Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness if not detected early.
During the session, facilitators stressed the importance of early detection and regular eye examinations. Free eye tests were also conducted for students as part of the outreach.
Speaking onbalf of Miradex Hope Initiative and Light Up Initiative Drive for Development, Benjamin Chigbu, said the outreach was designed to enlighten young people on eye care challenges and help reduce the prevalence of blindness in the community.
He explained that the team extended the reach out to all students in the school with the awareness campaign, adding that the school principal also requested that the screening be extended to teachers.
A representative of the TY Danjuma Foundation, Elkanah Markus, commended the organizations for the initiative.
He noted that the foundation was supporting the programme as part of its commitment to reducing cases of glaucoma and other eye-related conditions.
Some students who benefited from the exercise expressed appreciation to the organizations for bringing the awareness campaign and free eye screening to the school, noting that the programme helped students better understand the importance of protecting their eyesight.
The outreach formed part of activities marking World Glaucoma Week, aimed at raising public awareness about the silent but serious eye condition and encouraging early detection to prevent avoidable blindness.
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