To reduce cases of loss of sight and eye diseases among residents in the Territory, Federal Capital Territory Administration has began the distribution of free glasses accross the six Area Councils of the Territory.
Accordingly, this is in consonance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s announcement on the distribution of five million pairs of glasses to Nigerians.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with the Clinton Access Initiative, aims to tackle presbyopia, a common refractive error in individuals aged 40 and above.
Programme Manager, Eye Care Unit, FCT Public Health Department, Dr. Ehiemere Goodluck, highlighted the importance of the outreach during the launch of the event in Abaji, one of the Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Under the leadership of the Dr. Adedolapo Fashawe, Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), the programme has been expanded to provide 50,000 spectacles to FCT residents across the six Area Councils, a significant increase from the initial 6,000 pairs.
The initiative, known as “Effective Spectacle Coverage in Nigeria,” has seen a massive turnout of residents eager to have their eyes screened and receive free reading glasses.
Goodluck encourages everyone in the FCT to participate in the screening and take advantage of the free glasses being provided.
She said that the programme will simultaneously go on across all the six Area Councils in the FCT.
Abuja Digest reports that Presbyopia is an age-related condition where the eye gradually loses its ability to focus on close objects. It usually becomes noticeable around the age of 40 and worsens over time
Abuja Digest further reports that the “Effective Spectacle Coverage in Nigeria” programme underscores the government’s commitment to improving eye health and ensuring that Nigerians take proper care of their vision.
