By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Pyrates Confraternity Kaduna Chapter has distributed about 800 glasses and drugs worth hundreds of thousands to people with eye defects in Kaduna, as part of the World Sight Day celebration.
President of NAS, Capone of Aurora Fotula Deck Kaduna Chapter, Dr Okpara Obinna, told journalists that the association has been in existence since 1952 and what they were doing at the Sabon Tasha Community Kaduna to kick out glaucoma blindness was one of their humanitarian services.
According to him, “today is the continuation of the celebration of World Sight Day. In aligning with the international arm, we found ourselves in a region where if not taken care of our sights,we would have issues.
” So what we decided to do is to pick out glaucoma and detecting of early glaucoma because blindness starts with glaucoma. If it’s not detected early, it would lead to permanent blindness. So our association in Kaduna Chapter here, took it upon themselves to give free consultation and also administer drugs and lenses within our community.
“We’ve done some little research where we’ve a lot of this sickness in a Local Government but it’s volatile , due to insecurity. That was the original plan where we were supposed to be doing this. But we already had a documentary on it.So to fulfil that documentary that was carried out,we decided to actually impact this in our community.
“The number of people expected to benefit from this is1200 people. We are actually working with the Rotary Club in Kaduna, Eko Atlantic club which I’m also part of it.We are also working with an Indian firm that has done some surgeries,but that would come out after this primary exercise. Also, the Local Government I’ve mentioned by the time we go there,we would identify people that would need surgery.
“So the Kaduna State Chapter of National Association of Seadogs and the Eko Atlantic Rotary Club with a hospital in India, Qitmeer Foundation,we would be able to do surgery in National Hospital here in Kaduna. We also have consultants from the National Hospital Kaduna. They came for free of charge because it’s something worth doing.They want to join and partner with us. “
He therefore, called on the beneficiaries who met with the consultants to take the advice on how to take care of their eyes seriously, and get across to the hospital for early detection of glaucoma.
“If you don’t detect glaucoma and you go blind, you go blind permanently ,” he warned.
Dr Obinna disclosed that the Kaduna Chapter of NAS would be having a programme in February 2024,where the international body of the Seadogs and a robust medical team that could take care of over 2000 people would be present in Kaduna.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Christopher Yanga, a 63-year old resident of Sabon Tasha community, said he was grateful for the medical intervention by Seadogs because he had been battling with eye problem for sometime.
According to him, ” I was not seeing clearly but they’ve checked my eyes and gave me medication including a medical glass. We are grateful for their kind gesture to our people.”
Also,Evangelist Regina Steven said there were many people in the community with glaucoma who resorted to self medication, and thanked God for bringing the Seadogs medical team to the community.
” There is high rate of poverty in the community. So we are grateful to them and pray God will strengthen them to extend this help to all the Local Government Areas in the state,” she said.
Dr Nnamdi Eneh who led the Seadogs medical team during the exercise, said the mission was part of their celebrating World Sight Day which was done every second Thursday in October.
He said ” this year’s World Sight Day is about the eyes at work…So for us in the National Association of Seadogs, part of our activities is to create awareness and to get involved in humanitarian activities.”
“This year we have decided to look at a very important eye condition which is glaucoma. Worldwide 2 disease conditions cause blindness. Cataract and glaucoma. The difference is glaucoma causes irreversible blindness and that’s why they call it the silent thief of sight .”
He explained that most patients never knew they’ve glaucoma until it became severe., which most times led to blindness .
Dr Nnamdi said it was key to detect the disease on time so that treatment could be instituted on time so that blindness could be prevented.
‘ So that’s why we are targeting glaucoma as our activity to celebrate the World Sight Day this year 2023,” he sai.
He explained that they wanted to create awareness so that people would take care of their eyes, and have mobilized a team of specialists in different fields related to eye sight who would examine the locals, provide them with drugs and glasses, and refer those who may require further treatment to the National Eye Centre or other specialist hospitals.
” This is Sabo, a densely populated community so we are looking at 500 people, it’s still early in the day but there is already a large turn out.We are treating the elderly, children, men and women .We are here and would attend to everybody.We hope this will.create an impact on the community so that everybody will be interested in taking care of their eyes,” he said.
The Village Head of Tsaunin Kura, Malam Samaila Isa who was represented by his Secretary, Murtala Isa said they were able to mobilize the people in their places of worship to present themselves for eye checks,and expressed appreciation to the National Association of Seadogs for rendering its humanitarian service in their community.
