Tradition, miracle churches blamed for rise of blindness among children

Delivering a lecture titled ‘Childhood Blindness: A changing picture with changing challenges’ at the inaugural lecture series of the university, Dawodu lamented that traditional institutions and miracle churches have done more harm than good to blind children.“Rather than bring the children to the hospital for treatment, parents visit miracle churches that promise to restore the […]

Delivering a lecture titled ‘Childhood Blindness: A changing picture with changing challenges’ at the inaugural lecture series of the university, Dawodu lamented that traditional institutions and miracle churches have done more harm than good to blind children.
“Rather than bring the children to the hospital for treatment, parents visit miracle churches that promise to restore the children’s sight. After much harm has been done to the patients, the parents approach the hospital late.
“This can be attributed to illiteracy because educated parents know where to seek for eye treatment when the need arises. Many people are in the habit of using un-prescribed lenses,” she said.
She called on government to establish an Ophthalmology Centre in each of the six geopolitical zones with a view to taking treatment closer to the people. She also canvassed for laws to bind unregistered bodies from operating eye treatment centres.
Professor Dawodu also said that the rise of blind children roaming the streets can be attributed to poverty and superstition on the part of parents.
She said: “If we can effectively tackle poverty, then the disease will reduce. The Rubella virus vaccine should also be introduced in the National Immunisation Policy for children.
The vice chancellor of the university, Prof Farady Orumwense, thanked the lecturer for the presentation which he said was timely.
He noted that the inaugural lecturer of the university will always remain an avenue where scholars will educate the university community on their achievements in the field of research.
Eddy Uwoghiren is a 300Level student of Medicine & Surgery, University of Benin