One million Nigerians blind, says minister

Invites herbal practitioner to verify claims on HIV/AIDS cureMINISTER of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has said that about one million Nigerians are blind and some three million others visually impaired.He stressed that studies show that women are the most vulnerable and advocated promotion of eye healthcare in order to attain the Millennium Development Goals targets.Chukwu, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Fatima Bamidele, disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja on the World Sight Day with the theme, 'Eye health and development: A good vision for all to attain the MDGs.'According to him, over 50 per cent of children who become blind before the age of five may not live to celebrate their sixth birthday.'Also, improving female gender access to eye care services will ensure access to opportunities for self reliance and contribution to national development,' he said.Chukwu has also invited a Lagos-based herbal medicine practitioner, Dr. Harts Ugochukwu to verify his claims that he has cure for the dreadedHIV/AIDS disease, and to assist the government in curbing the menace.In a letter of invitation from the Department of Public Health National AIDS/STDs Control Programme (NASCP) dated September 30, 2011 signed by the National Coordinator, HIV/AIDSDivision, Dr. EmekaAsadu, he stated that the attention of the minister has been drawn to his recent interview with a national newspaper claiming that he has curedover 40,000 patients infected with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.He cited the national blindness and low vision survey carried out between 2005 and 2007, which revealed that three million Nigerians are being visually impaired.'Over 80 per cent of the causes of blindness in Nigeria were avoidable. Fifty per cent of avoidable blindness was attributable to cataract, followed by glaucoma (16 per cent), corneal opacity (12 per cent), trachoma (four per cent), optic Atrophy (three per cent) and refractive error being the major cause of visual impairment,' he said.According to him, Nigeria has subscribed fully to the initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to combat avoidable blindness known as 'Vision 2020: The right sight.''Blindness affects more women than men; this is related to inequality of opportunity of access to specialized care, and also the disproportionate exposure of women to certain binding diseases compared to men,' he added.
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