Expert Warns Against Patronizing Traditional Healers on Eye Related Issues.
By Murtala Muhammad
A Consultant Ophthalmologist with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, ATBUTH, Bauchi Dr. Abdul Mohammed Mahdi has warned people against patronizing traditional healers especially on eye-related issues to prevent themselves from total blindness.
He sounded the warning while interacting with journalists in Bauchi on the occasion of this year’s World Sight Day with the theme Hope in Sight. .
Dr. Abdul Mahdi who is also the Head of Ophthalmology department ATBUTH said in most cases people who patronize traditional healers on eye related problems end up coming to the hospital with severe complications that are very difficult to correct.
He said the common eye problems that are usually reported to the hospital are itching, teary eye and mild redness, such according to him if properly managed, will prevent loss of vision.
The Consultant Ophthalmologist explained that the current National Blindness and Low Vision Survey posits that about eighty percent of blindness in the country are avoidable.
Dr. Abdul Mahdi advised parents and teachers to avoid subjecting school children to severe punishment due to their low performance in school, they should instead seek medical advice in relation to the children’s eye sight
World Sight Day is being celebrated worldwide every second Thursday of October to create awareness in communities about avoidable causes of blindness.
