The Osun State Government has inaugurated a committee tasked with tackling blindness among residents.
The committee, headed by an ophthalmologist who specialises in glaucoma care and community eye health, Caroline Adeoti, has the mandate to provide strategic direction for eye health programmes.
In his welcome address at the inauguration held in Osogbo on Wednesday, the Eye Health Desk Officer at the Osun State Ministry of Health, Dr Olufemi Oroge, explained that Osun, like other states in the country, faces challenges including uneven distribution of eye care services, limited integration of eye health into Primary Health Care, and gaps in data for informed decision-making, among others.
He added that the committee was a response to the identified challenges, noting that the group would also work towards providing a structured, coordinated, and evidence-driven platform to guide the development, implementation, and monitoring of eye health services across the state.
“This committee is expected to bring together key stakeholders, foster collaboration, and ensure that our efforts are aligned, efficient, and impactful.
“The overarching purpose of the committee is to provide strategic leadership and coordination for eye health in Osun State.Specifically, the committee is expected to: Provide strategic direction for eye health programmes
“Strengthen coordination among stakeholders, promote the integration of eye care into Primary Health Care, and support evidence-based decision-making through data and research. Improve the quality, accessibility, and equity of eye care services and advise the Honourable Commissioner for Health on appropriate policies, programmes, and interventions,” Oroge said.
Third, in service delivery, the committee will promote the integration of eye care into Primary Health Care and strengthen referral linkages across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care. This is essential to ensure continuity of care and equitable access for all citizens.
“Fourth, on quality assurance, the Committee will monitor the quality of eye care services across all levels, respond to complaints, and recommend corrective actions where necessary,” the medical expert said.
Speaking at the inauguration, the committee chairperson, Adeoti, reeled out statistics on global eye health.
She commended the state Commissioner for Health, Jola Akintola, for setting up the committee, describing the initiative as long overdue.
She said, “As of 2020, approximately 43.3 million people were blind worldwide, by 2050, this figure could rise to 61 million. Also, nearly 295 million people live with moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI). More than 75% of these cases are preventable or treatable.
