As part of activities to celebrate the 2023 World Glaucoma Week, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) provided free cataract surgery for residents of Ojokoro community.
The hospital also engaged in free medical outreach as part of their weekly activities.
LASUTH’s management commenced the glaucoma week with a briefing, led by Prof. Bola Adekoya, head, Ophthalmology Department of the hospital.
She said 80 per cent of people with glaucoma in developing countries are unaware of their condition, and most of the cases that are identified are usually in a more progressed state.
“This is the reason the World Glaucoma Association has set aside an entire week to intensify awareness that will sensitise people all over the world so that more people can become aware, more people can come forward for early screening and early detection can be given for effective treatment,” she said.
The Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, expressed appreciated staff members of the Ophthalmology Department for their contribution during the week.
He advocated ongoing community instruction, knowledge and testing to tackle the illness in the region.
The Director Clinical Services and Training, Prof. Adebowale Adekoya, commended the CMD for the efforts in the department, in terms of man power and equipment in accordance with the hospital’s desire of becoming a quaternary hospital, an extension of tertiary healthcare.
World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative of the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) in order to raise awareness on glaucoma. Through a series of engaging worldwide activities patients, eye-care providers, health officials and the general public are invited to contribute to sight preservation. The goal is to alert everyone to have regular eye (and optic nerve) checks in order to detect glaucoma as early as possible.
