NGO Trains Journalists on Eye Health and NTDs for Social Inclusion Awareness

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Sightsavers Nigeria, a Non Governmental Organisation, has conducted a three-day workshop in Keffi, training 25 journalists from North Central Nigeria on topics including eye health, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and social inclusion.

The objective of this training was to collaborate with the media to raise awareness about the significance of eye health, NTDs, and social inclusion.

The Country Director of Sightsavers Dr. Sunday Isyaku,, highlighted the global issue of over one billion individuals suffering from various NTDs.

Sightsavers Nigeria’s goal is to eliminate NTDs as a public health concern, especially since Nigeria currently bears 28 percent of Africa’s NTD burden.

Isyaku explained that while there are over 20 types of NTDs, Sightsavers primarily focuses on addressing onchocerciasis (river blindness), elephantiasis (filariasis), parasitic worms (intestinal worms), schistosomiasis, and trachoma NTDs.

Their mission extends to improving the health, education, and social inclusion of people with disabilities, women, and gender-related issues.

The NGO provides essential drugs through Community Health Centers to combat NTDs. Their broader vision encompasses creating an inclusive education system that integrates children with disabilities into mainstream schools.

They emphasize the need for equal access to public institutions, jobs, places of worship, and schools for people with disabilities, aiming to eliminate the stigma associated with disability.

Program Officer at the NGO Dr. Joshua Ibenu, noted that 2.2 billion people worldwide have vision impairments, with one billion being preventable cases.

He said, “ In Nigeria, more than 61 percent of the population experiences various eye problems, and Sightsavers has played a significant role in trachoma treatment over the past 30 years.

“ The major causes of blindness in Nigeria include cataracts, glaucoma, trachoma, cornea opacity, and uncorrected refractive errors. Early detection and intervention could prevent many cases of blindness.” he said.

Project Officer of Economic Empowerment at Sightsavers, Mr. David Okoroafor, stressed the importance of promoting disability rights. Over one billion people globally have disabilities, often leading to low income levels.

Okoroafor advocated for social inclusion and the construction of schools that accommodate all children, regardless of their physical conditions.

He cited the successful “Support Mainstreaming Inclusion for all Learn Equal (SMILE)” project in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State as a model.

The training aimed to enhance journalists’ reporting skills on eye health, NTDs, and social inclusion, with the ultimate goal of reshaping the narrative around the need for an inclusive environment for children with disabilities in mainstream schools.