HUNDREDS SCREENED FOR EYE RELATED DISEASES IN YAOUNDE

During a sensitization lecture with members of the Yaounde Chapter of the Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, Dr Elisabeth Asthma, Medical Officer at the Presbyterian Eye Hospital in Yaounde, gave the warning.

The sensitization, which was organized in collaboration with the Christian Blind Mission, was part of the health facility's efforts to commemorate World Sight Day. The day is set aside to promote public awareness and educate the public about eye disorders, blindness, and visual impairment.

According to Dr. Asthma, early detection and treatment assist to prevent any impending eye mortality, and she urged media practitioners to constantly see their opthamologists while also ensuring that they educate their viewers on the significance of such a step.

“Prevention is always better than cure. Endeavour to check your eyes and if something is happening with them, early treatment is always better,” she said

The early lecture on eye care and cleanliness set the tone for a free screening exercise at the Presbyterian Hospital in Nsimeyong, with over 500 people sensitized and tested throughout the day.

Julius Fon, Nation Director of CBM, presented data on eye disorders, stating that cataracts afflict 1% of people aged 0-40 years and 88 % of people aged 60 and over in the country each year, with about 26,000 new cases reported each year.

To offer a remedy, he said that CBM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, funds 5000 cataract operations in Cameroon each year, while also funding 15 million surgeries on a worldwide scale. For almost 40 years, they have provided eye care services throughout eight of Cameroon's 10 regions.