Not Less Than 3,460 Children Have Benefitted From SIB Free Eye Surgery….Obayi
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Mr. Clement Obayi, the coordinator of Osun, Oyo, and Ogun States for Seeing is Believing (SIB) Comprehensive Child Eye Health in Nigeria has declared that not less than 3,460 children has benefited from free eye surgery for the children with various impaired vision.
He made this statement in Ibadan yesterday 4th June in a meeting with media practitioners where he declared that seeing is believing comprehensive child health has assisted children with various sight challenges with the provision of 27, 443 spectacles and low vision devices.
He said ” seeing is believing is a three years comprehensive child eye health Initiative implemented in four clusters, with the cluster one comprised of Osun, Oyo and Ogun States and cluster two is comprised of Abuja, Nasarawa and Plateau State, while cluster three is for Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina States, with cluster four comprises of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States respectively.
He noted further that the program is meant to promote, prevent, cure, rehabilitate and educate components of child eye health. This program is being implemented by Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) in partnership with the Standard Chartered Bank.
Mr. Clement also noted that the program has trained 2,388, health workers, at primary health centers, and also 163 eye care specialists have been trained, while over 1.5 million children have been screened for eye challenges in all our cluster areas.
“We have primary health centers in all local government areas we covered, with drugs free of charge for the children with eye challenges, We have secondary care units in each states we covered, like in Ibadan there is Eleta Eye Institute, and Ring Road Hospital Ibadan, where you can get both drugs and devices for children with eye challenges.
” We also have some health education Schools for the eye impaired children, like the one we have in Ibadan the Omonigbeheyin School for the Blinds and Handicap.
The Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ), Oyo State Chapter Mrs. Jadesola Ajibola, appealed to the media to always report in details all that entails child eye health and related health issues.
She said ” I want you all to imbibe the act of reporting health issues in your stories, as this will go a long way in reducing the health challenges we have in our society.
