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Slovak representatives and stakeholders from Madi sub region for launch. Photo by Nancy Aol Nancy Aol AdjumaniChallenges of eye care could be a thing of the past with the launch of a multimillion vision care centre by Slovak Catholic gift of love, a faith base
Slovak representatives and stakeholders from Madi sub region for launch. Photo by Nancy Aol
Nancy Aol
Adjumani
Challenges of eye care could be a thing of the past with the launch of a multimillion vision care centre by Slovak Catholic gift of love, a faith based foreign and not for profit non-governmental private organization which is committed to combat dehumanizing poverty, which robs people of their dignity of humanity.
Manga Julius, the program manager while addressing the populace during the launch on June 22, 2024, at the Leisure Park, Adjumani Town council, Adjumani district noted that vision care commenced in 2023 with funding from Slovak aid.
He said, “this program is set out to contribute to educating the general population of the region about vision and its care, subsequently resolving their sight challenges through providing low-cost glasses.” He further disclosed that the vision centre is capable of serving the entire Madi sub region and the greater northern Uganda with capacity of 1000 clients directly.
Martin Vittek the project Director and head of Mission Caritas Slovakia expressed gratitude towards the optical team saying, “the optical team is progressive and glad to cooperate with them and the team is great, we would love to care for your vision.”
Martin Vittek the project director addressing the gathering. Photo by Nancy Aol
Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka the Resident District Commissioner Obongi who was in attendance maintained that most times similar services are congested in Arua plus other cities like Kampala and very difficult for the common person to access.
He also divulged that “of late due to our life style, maybe people’s vision is getting a lot of challenges, please our partners address these challenges, and I may attribute these rampant vision challenges to our way of eating and poverty, these days you even find children below ten years wearing eye glasses.”
Amandu Kadara Zaida the Ophthalmic clinical officer, who represented the DHO Adjumani in her remarks warned traditional healers and quack doctors against prescribing medication that has caused more eye challenges.
She said, “there are shoddy doctors recommending rudimental measures for example during the recent outbreak of red eyes, some fake doctors advised patients to use urine and this escalated some cases putting the eyes of patients in limb”. Zaida further appealed to the team to always cooperate with the government workers by referring cases that are more complicated for further management.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner Adjumani Emmanuel Okware maintained that this makes a development process from the Slovaks, and pointed out that “the facility will serve both the Refugees and the host community saying such services are not available in the settlements” he advised the partners to exhibit the best customer services further appreciating the support to supplement government efforts to offer vision care for the populace.
According to Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey in Uganda published by the daily monitor, 0.4 percent of Ugandans (160,000 people) are blind, while moderate to severe visual impairment is at seven percent, an equivalence of 2.8 million people.