Eye care clinic held in observance of World Sight Day 2011
- Minister Ramsaran emphasises reduction in eye related illnesses
Georgetown, GINA, October 13, 2011
Source - GINA
Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran interacting with residents at the East La Penitence health centre where they were enlightened about the importance of testing their eyes
For many years the Ministry of Health has been placing significant attention on the delivery of eye care services. This focus was seen in the provision of health care through the Mission Miracle initiative, the operationalisation of the National Ophthalmology Centre in Port Mourant, Region 6, the awarding of scholarships to pursue ophthalmology studies and the execution of medical outreaches throughout Guyana.
In observance of World Sight Day 2011 today the Ministry of Health with support from Eye Care Guyana held an eye care clinic at the East La Penitence health centre where residents, both young and old, in the community were afforded the opportunity to test their eyes, free of cost.
Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran noted that Guyana has been taking part in this international activity for several years now, and this year the aim is to bring to the public the efforts of the Ministry in the fight against blindness, visual impairment and the rehabilitation of the visually impaired.
“At the same time we are joining with the international community to promote our efforts to leverage more resources including funding and human resources in the fight against blindness, visual impairment and to promote the rehabilitation of the visually impaired,” he said.
Minister Ramsaran pointed out that this year a theme was not selected by the international organisations in order to allow countries to select their own themes. In this regard, Guyana has selected “Ensuring equity of access to quality eye care services to all Guyanese” as its theme.
Minister Ramsaran explained that international agencies have estimated that approximately 285 million people, world wide, live with low vision and blindness. Of the 285 million people 40 million are blind and approximately 240 million have low vision while every five seconds somewhere in the world somebody goes needlessly blind.
It is also estimated that approximately 19 million children are visually impaired although it has been observed that the number of people blind from infectious diseases has significantly reduced in the past 20 years. Noteworthy is the fact that about 65 percent of all people who are visually impaired are aged 50 years and over, comprising only 20 percent of the world’s population. Minister Ramsaran noted that Guyana has taken note of such and has made steps to address the issue.
He explained that while 90 percent of blind people live in developing countries, like Guyana, 80 percent of blindness is treatable or preventable. This is evident in the fight against blindness gaining momentum over the last few years in Guyana with the availability of specialised training made available with support of Eye Care Guyana, the establishment of the National Ophthalmology Centre which has conducted over 36,000 consultations, the execution of numerous medical outreaches, strengthening of international partnerships, and the launch of the Vision 20/20: The Right to Sight campaign.
Importantly the Health Ministry is planning to expand the medical outreaches into the hinterland and the integration of eye care into the primary health car system thereby ensuring more persons have access to care.
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness that focuses global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired and it is observed on the second Thursday in October. It is the main advocacy event for the prevention of blindness and for "Vision 2020: The Right to Sight", a global effort to prevent blindness created by WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
- Minister Ramsaran emphasises reduction in eye related illnesses
Georgetown, GINA, October 13, 2011
Source - GINA
Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran interacting with residents at the East La Penitence health centre where they were enlightened about the importance of testing their eyesFor many years the Ministry of Health has been placing significant attention on the delivery of eye care services. This focus was seen in the provision of health care through the Mission Miracle initiative, the operationalisation of the National Ophthalmology Centre in Port Mourant, Region 6, the awarding of scholarships to pursue ophthalmology studies and the execution of medical outreaches throughout Guyana.
In observance of World Sight Day 2011 today the Ministry of Health with support from Eye Care Guyana held an eye care clinic at the East La Penitence health centre where residents, both young and old, in the community were afforded the opportunity to test their eyes, free of cost.
Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran noted that Guyana has been taking part in this international activity for several years now, and this year the aim is to bring to the public the efforts of the Ministry in the fight against blindness, visual impairment and the rehabilitation of the visually impaired.
“At the same time we are joining with the international community to promote our efforts to leverage more resources including funding and human resources in the fight against blindness, visual impairment and to promote the rehabilitation of the visually impaired,” he said.
Minister Ramsaran pointed out that this year a theme was not selected by the international organisations in order to allow countries to select their own themes. In this regard, Guyana has selected “Ensuring equity of access to quality eye care services to all Guyanese” as its theme.
Minister Ramsaran explained that international agencies have estimated that approximately 285 million people, world wide, live with low vision and blindness. Of the 285 million people 40 million are blind and approximately 240 million have low vision while every five seconds somewhere in the world somebody goes needlessly blind.
It is also estimated that approximately 19 million children are visually impaired although it has been observed that the number of people blind from infectious diseases has significantly reduced in the past 20 years. Noteworthy is the fact that about 65 percent of all people who are visually impaired are aged 50 years and over, comprising only 20 percent of the world’s population. Minister Ramsaran noted that Guyana has taken note of such and has made steps to address the issue.
He explained that while 90 percent of blind people live in developing countries, like Guyana, 80 percent of blindness is treatable or preventable. This is evident in the fight against blindness gaining momentum over the last few years in Guyana with the availability of specialised training made available with support of Eye Care Guyana, the establishment of the National Ophthalmology Centre which has conducted over 36,000 consultations, the execution of numerous medical outreaches, strengthening of international partnerships, and the launch of the Vision 20/20: The Right to Sight campaign.
Importantly the Health Ministry is planning to expand the medical outreaches into the hinterland and the integration of eye care into the primary health car system thereby ensuring more persons have access to care.
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness that focuses global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired and it is observed on the second Thursday in October. It is the main advocacy event for the prevention of blindness and for "Vision 2020: The Right to Sight", a global effort to prevent blindness created by WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
