Ankole Eye Blindness Campaign Launched
Mbarara University of Science and Technology and the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Eye department launched a campaign to prevent and treat Glaucoma disease.
The Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Mbarara City North, Robert Kanusu presided over the launch ceremony at the grounds of the Mbarara Hospital Eye Department in Mbarara City.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the launch, Dr. Simon Arunga, the lead consultant on the Glaucoma prevention project said that they will work with different health facilities in Ankole region to treat those with the disease.
Dr. Arunga noted that Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in Africa, with Uganda holding the second position after Nigeria in terms of prevalence. He called for a combined effort to fight the disease.
The Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Mbarara City North, Robert Kanusu who launched the campaign against Glaucoma was worried that the disease could afflict many more people if not given special attention. He underscored the need to have a healthy population and asked all stakeholders disseminate the message of prevention to the population.
Dr. John Onyango, an ophthalmologist and head of the eye department at Mbarara University and Mbarara Regional Referral hospital, thanked CBM for the donation of modern eye equipment to the hospital and other referral hospitals
Mbarara District Health officer, Dr. Peter Ssebutinde asked all stakeholders to mobilize the community to make proper use of the equipment and the expertise developed.
Glaucoma is highly prevalent and yet it is one of the most neglected tropical diseases. It is an eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, is damaged. It's usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma can lead to loss of vision if it's not diagnosed and treated early.
According to Dr. Arunga, 5 out of 100 people have Glaucoma disease and the national prevalence stands at 5%, doubling diabetes which is at 2% and HIV at 6%.
