The New Nation - Internet Edition

According to available statistics more than 780,000 adults are blind in Bangladesh about 80 percent of who suffer due to unoperated cataract while over 74 percent from low vision. On the other hand, out of over 50 million children in Bangladesh about 40,000 are blind. In both the cases cataract has been identified as the leading cause of blindness. Over 12,000 children suffer from unnecessary blindness due to unoperated cataract. Another 10,000 children are blind due to corneal scarring which is completely preventable through effective primary health care and primary eye care services in the society. According to reports, 15 lakh adult and children in the country are visually impaired.

These figures show that a large number of the visually challenged persons suffer simply due to lack or inadequacy of timely preventive measures and curative treatment. Shortage of vitamin A in human body is a major source of blindness. Feeding of this vitamin could have saved millions from cataract and night blindness. Simple and less expensive cataract operations could have cured 80 percent of the adult from blindness. But such services are not easily available in the country. The government lacks proper drive and fails to mobilise resources. Its service coverage for the blind is poorly managed, inefficiently handled and inadequately delivered. Some non-government organisations are heard of working for the blind. But very little impact of their services is felt in real life. Whatever service is available from both the sources is quite inadequate to what is needed. Blind people deserve rational consideration by their own right. And it is responsibility of the society to provide them with necessary services.

The government should adopt a comprehensive programme for the prevention and treatment of blindness and rehabilitation of the visually disabled persons. Lack of awareness about the causes of blindness has a role in aggravating the situation. The policy matrix of the authority should, therefore, include mass awareness programme.

Ariful Huq

Dhaka