World Sight Day: Kaduna Eye Outreach Targets 1,000 Residents

The Kaduna State Government says it is targeting 1,000 people with vision impairment for free eye care services in the state.

 

The outreach, which began on Wednesday, is a joint effort between the Kaduna Ministry of Health and Sightsavers, a development partner. It forms part of activities marking the 2026 World Sight Day in the state, held under the theme "Love Your Eyes".

 

The exercise was inaugurated at the Gonin Gora community and at the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) in Kaduna.

 

Barbara Marok, Programme Officer, Eye Health, Sightsavers, said the team would take the screening into communities to reach residents, as well as to workers in government establishments.

 

According to Marok, the outreach is designed to raise awareness of the importance of eye health and to encourage early detection of eye problems.

 

Marok added that the organisation chose a range of communities for the exercise to mobilise participation and ensure wider coverage.

Dr Stanley Bulus, an ophthalmologist and lecturer at the Kaduna State University (KASU), said the exercise aimed to reach between 500 and 1,000 people in the Gonin Gora community alone.

 

He said the team was made up of ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and other support staff, and described the response from residents as impressive.

 

Bulus listed cataract, glaucoma, eye infections, presbyopia and allergic conjunctivitis among the common conditions identified during the screening.

 

"Cataract is a reversible cause of blindness, while glaucoma could cause irreversible loss of vision if not detected and managed early.

 

"Eye care is something that we need to take seriously," he said.

 

He urged residents to undergo regular eye checks, noting that some eye conditions could develop without obvious symptoms.

 

John Sarki, Chief of the Gonin Gora community, commended the initiative, saying it would improve eye health in the area. He said he was screened himself and received drugs and glasses.

 

Victoria Musa, one of the beneficiaries, said she brought her mother, who has severe vision impairment, for treatment. She said her mother was given glasses to correct blurry vision and was referred for surgery.

 

Another beneficiary, Revelation Adamu, said he received eye drops and was told he would be referred to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital if his condition did not improve.

 

"The services are free of charge, the intervention is commendable," he said.