DOH-Caraga enjoins public & private sectors to support this year's National Sight Saving Month celeb

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 6 – The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga enjoined partners from the public and private sectors to support this year’s celebration of the National Sight Saving Month in Caraga region.

“We are strengthening our unified efforts to address the needs of citizens, especially those who are underserved and in remotely accessible areas. Together with our partners from the private sector, we greatly encourage Private Public Partnership (PPP). One of which is the adoption of Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center by Montero Medical Missions last July 23, 2013. The partnership aims to deliver several services to the poor, one of which is free Cataract surgery. With the thrusts of the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan, we will deliver our deliverables, that is, to prevent avoidable blindness and improve the quality of life of our citizens by improving and maintaining the health of our people,” said DOH-CHD Caraga Regional Director Ariel I. Valencia.

Since the 1980s, the month of August has been celebrated as the Sight Saving Month[1]. This celebration aims to better spread awareness and emphasize the importance of protecting and taking good care of the eyes. This year’s theme is, “Alagaan Ang Mata Mula Bata Hanggang Pagtanda”.

The eyes are sensory organs which are primarily used for sight. Like other organs of the body, the eyes are no exception to diseases and disorders. A common disorder associated with the eyes is the error of refraction. Error of refraction is the deviation from the normal visual acuity of an average adult which is 20/20. This may be corrected with prescription corrective lenses or glasses. Another common disorder is Cataract formation, or the clouding of the lens of the eye resulting to decreased vision and ultimately, blindness. This may be corrected and conventionally treated with surgery.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report in June 2012, approximately 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, with 39 million blind and 246 million with low vision. Of all visual impairment, 80% can be avoided or cured, which includes avoidable and treatable conditions like cataract, error of refraction, and childhood blindness.

In support of the new Global Action Plan for Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment 2014-2019 adapted recently by the World Health Assembly in May 2013, with the theme, ‘Universal Eye Health’, the DOH is pleased to announce that a five-year strategic plan for prevention of blindness 2013-2017 was recently completed by the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, as an integral part of the overall strategic plan for non-communicable diseases, based on a health systems strengthening framework and universal health care.

Go for health for healthy vision; eat right to protect your sight, maintain a healthy weight, wear protective eyewear, quit smoking or never start and be cool and wear your shades.(DOH-13/PIA-Caraga)