October 10, (THEWILL) — Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ejeh Ogwuche, has expressed the commitment of governor Hyacinth Alia administration through the Ministry to reduce preventable blindness and visual impairment to its barest minimum.
The Health Commissioner made the disclosure in Makurdi on Thursday while briefing the press on the occasion of this year World Sight Day Celebration.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Beatrice Tsavmbu, the Commissioner explained that the ministry has partnered with Local and International NGOs to provide free eye surgeries and corrective lenses to thousands of citizens.
“The state has strengthened primary eye care services at the community levels and supported vision screening programmes in rural areas. The Alia administration would continue to integrate eye health into primary health care, making services more accessible and affordable to all across the state in line with universal health coverage”, Dr Ogwuche assured.
He, therefore, urged every citizen to get their eyes tested and take proactive steps to preserve the precious gift of sight.
This is even as the committee chairman of Benue eye care, Dr Kator Chaha, applauded the governor for creating an environment for true celebration anniversary of world sight day in the state.
Some of the patients who lined up for a check up, including Mrs Mary Igba and John Akozua, while appreciating the rare gesture, appealed for the extension of such services to local Government Council wards for those who could not afford transport fares to also benefit from the scheme.
Highlight of the event was free eye screening and issuance of free corrective lenses to over two thousand patients held at the Ministry’s head office at the State Civil Service secretariat, Makurdi.
