LIVE UPDATES
The health commissioner of Plateau, Nicholas Baamlong, has announced that the state has a blindness prevalence rate of 2.7 percent, which is considerably higher than the national average of 0.7 percent.
Baamlong made this announcement on Thursday in Jos while speaking to the media in observance of the 2025 World Glaucoma Day.
He referenced the 2023 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness survey and indicated that cataracts and glaucoma are the primary causes of blindness in Plateau. However, he emphasized that early detection can avert most cases.
To combat the high incidence of blindness, Baamlong proposed several interventions by the state, including the creation of a comprehensive network of well-equipped eye care referral centres.
“We are focusing on training and equipping eye care professionals to improve service delivery and organizing numerous outreach programs in various communities to bolster the eye care system,” he mentioned.
Baamlong, who highlighted the significance of early detection, remarked that glaucoma is a major public health challenge and a key contributor to blindness.
He encouraged residents to give priority to their eye health by arranging regular eye examinations. Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to various partners and stakeholders in the state’s eye care sector for their ongoing support in addressing avoidable blindness.
