The ACHA Eye Hospital Douala upholds a yearly tradition of offering free eye screenings to Cameroonians on World Sight Day, held every October 10th. This year’s theme, « Love Your Eyes Kids, » emphasizes the crucial role parents and guardians play in ensuring early eye examinations for children to avoid future complications.
The hospital successfully screened over 1,500 patients of all ages during the special event. Ngolle Divine, a 45-year-old who traveled from Tombel to Douala, was inspired by positive testimonials from friends who attended last year’s event, praising the ACHA staff’s exceptional customer service. This year, his motivation for participating was to benefit from the expertise of the hospital’s skilled ophthalmologists.
Meanwhile,Dr. Awum Joyce, an ophthalmologist at ACHA Eye Hospital Douala, expressed concern despite their efforts. She noted that the number of patients with eye-related complications continues to rise annually. Current statistics in Cameroon indicate 26,000 infected individuals, and the number could climb further if preventive measures aren’t followed. Dr. Joyce emphasizes the importance of wearing protective eyewear, sunglasses, giving eyes proper rest, and, most importantly, scheduling regular eye checkups. She also warns against using eyeglasses without a prescription, as this can contribute to many eye problems.
It should be stated here that,World Sight Day, established in 2002, addresses the global issue of vision and blindness. Approximately 285 million people worldwide experience visual impairment or blindness, with 90% residing in low-income countries like Cameroon. However, 80% of visual impairment is preventable. Therefore, cultivating the habit of regular eye checkups is paramount for society to prevent sight-related problems.
HENRY WANA
