An ophthalmologist at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, Dr. Ameen K. Sulaiman, has revealed that Nigeria accounts for between 30 and 35 per cent of retinoblastoma cases recorded in Africa. This was disclosed during a World Sight Day awareness campaign organised by the National Eye Centre at the Kaduna Geographic Information Service. Retinoblastoma is a childhood cancer that affects the eye and can have severe consequences if not detected and treated early.
Dr. Sulaiman, who is also the Head of the Oculoplastic Unit of the National Eye Centre, called for increased government support for the treatment of paediatric eye cancers, particularly retinoblastoma. He noted that cancer can affect different parts of the eye, including ocular squamous cell neoplasia, Kaposi’s sarcoma, melanoma, and retinoblastoma. The ophthalmologist emphasised the need for greater attention to early detection and treatment of childhood eye cancers in Nigeria.
The prevalence of HIV has also increased the vulnerability of some patients to certain eye cancers, according to Dr. Sulaiman. He added that some patients present at health facilities with symptoms including sudden loss of vision and swelling of the eye. The ophthalmologist stressed the importance of seeking medical attention when such symptoms occur to prevent further complications.
On the sidelines of the World Sight Day campaign, the Chief Medical Director of the National Eye Centre, Dr. Hassan Wali, said the annual event was observed globally on the second Thursday of October to raise awareness about eye health. This year’s theme, “Love Your Eyes,” aimed at encouraging people to pay greater attention to their eye health. The Centre organised a free eye screening exercise at the Kaduna Geographic Information Service to sensitise staff and members of the public.
Dr. Wali noted that many Nigerians undergo general medical check-ups but often neglect their eyes, with some only discovering problems after losing vision in one eye. He said there was a new trend of eye diseases associated with ageing, such as diabetes and hypertension, affecting younger people. The CMD added that the Centre was expanding its awareness campaign to rural communities through radio programmes in English, Hausa, and other major languages.
The National Eye Centre is collaborating with allied eye health workers in local government areas and the Kaduna State Eye Care Programme to implement the awareness campaign. These workers can conduct basic eye screening within communities and refer complicated cases to specialist hospitals. The Centre chose KADGIS for this year’s outreach partly to appreciate the Kaduna state government and Governor Uba Sani for their interventions in support of the institution.
The outreach was timely, particularly because a large proportion of KADGIS staff spends long hours working with computers, according to Abdullahi Tukur, Director of Land Services, representing the Director-General of KADGIS. Over 90 per cent of KADGIS staff use laptops for between eight and nine hours daily, making the awareness campaign beneficial in helping workers understand preventive measures for protecting their eyesight. Staff members, including Sarah Dazhi, commended the National Eye Centre for the exercise, which included blood sugar and blood pressure checks.
Key points
- Nigeria accounts for 30-35% of Africa's retinoblastoma cases.
- The National Eye Centre is expanding its awareness campaign to rural communities.
- The Centre organised a free eye screening exercise at KADGIS to sensitise staff and members of the public.
