Posted on: Wed 11-11-2020

A professor of Ophthalmology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Folasade Akinsola, has advocated the adoption of Universal Health Coverage to improve eye health care.

Akinsola, at a public lecture organised by the Faculty of Ophthalmology, National Postgraduate College of Nigeria, said it was unfortunate that at least half of the world’s population still does not have full coverage of essential health services.

The theme of the lecture was, Vision 2020 or 20/20? How have we fared as Ophthalmologist.  

“If we adopt the UHC, an important part of SDG, then eye health care will improve. All UN member states have agreed to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Countries that progress toward UHC will make progress toward the other health-related target, and towards the other goals. Good health allows children to learn and adults to earn, helps people escape from poverty and provides the basis for long-term economic development.

“If we can start now, this is 2020; the year 2030 is around the corner. Governments at all levels should look at  the vision, work with it and then health eye care will be improved. We are on track but we have not achieved it. We should not be having the prevalence of blindness in Nigeria again,” Akinsola said.

The expert also reiterated the need for awareness to be increased on eye health care among Nigerians.

She said, “People should be enlightened on what they should not put in the eye; the use of urine, petrol, alum, rob, feaces and even breast milk on the eye is not good. But if we are not educating the masses, if we don’t disseminate the information, people will not know.”

Source: Punch

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