Albino Foundation wants policy to address vision impairment
NAN-HG-6
Policy
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Oct. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Albino Foundation (TAF), an NGO, on Friday called on the Federal Government to formulate an eye care policy that would address challenges of vision impairment in the country.
Mr Jake Epelle, Founder of the organisation, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja against the backdrop of the commemoration of this year’s World Sight Day on Oct 13.
He stressed the need for government to work with stake holders to formulate an eye care policy in the country that is well articulated and streamlined for effective implementation, adding that no fewer than 40 million Nigerians have one form of vision impairment with inadequate access to care.
Epelle, who outlined the challenges and possible solutions in addressing issues of sight among Nigerians, said that the policy would further promote and provide a guide for development partners, ophthalmologists and optometrists to function efficiently.
According to Epelle, the ophthalmologists and optometrists that are responsible for providing care to the visually impaired in the country were at conflict with no collaboration among them.
He said the conflict had lingered over the years which have affected their common objective of providing succour to the vision impaired individuals in the society.
“This challenges confronting the two organisations have lingered because there is no eye care policy in the country, no specific policy document and therefore no policy direction.
“We want the government to intervene and find a lasting solution to all the challenges both organisations are confronted with,’’ he said.
He added that the eye care policy would stipulate a clear mandate of operation for each organisation thereby providing a common platform for both organisations to work effectively.
Epelle explained that Albinism as a group of hereditary disorders that involve an abnormality of melanin distribution which clinically presents as a pigmentation abnormality of the skin, hair and eyes.
He said persons living with albinism were among the group of persons who expresses sight challenge of low vision.
He said oculocutaneous albinism involves both the skin and the eyes while ocular albinism affects the eyes with minimal or no skin involvement.
The founder further called on government and stakeholders to create more awareness and provide intervention strategy to the visually challenged person in the society especially those residing in rural communities. (NAN)
TIM/EAL/MST
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola