An NGO, Sightsavers, has urged the media to support its activities through sensitisation of the general public on issues around eye health, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and disability inclusion.
The Country Advocacy Coordinator, Esther Bature made the call during a two-day Media Partners’ Meeting held in Kano.
The Newsmen reports that the media engagement drew media practitioners from both prints and electronics.
Newsmen also reports that the meeting brainstormed not only on activities of Sightsavers but also on possible ways the media could positively transform the the society, especially disability inclusion.
Bature stated that the organisation had been in Nigeria for over 70 years addressing issues around NTD, eye health and disability inclusion, impacting on 61 per cent of the the population.
She appreciated the media for their support throughout the journey so far and urged them to do more in helping the organisation garner more support for its work in Nigeria.
“Advocate alongside with us to ensure that all levels of governments prioritise efforts to tackle NTD, eye health and social inclusion.
“Create awareness around the work we do, so that people will know and benefit from our interventions,” she pleaded.
Earlier, the Programme Officer, Eye Health, Barbara Anang noted that over 4.5 million Nigerians were blind or visually impaired, mostly due to preventable or treatable conditions such as cataract and glaucoma among others.
She added that Sightsavers had distributed 1,446 spectacles and conducted 715 cataract and glaucoma surgeries under its Seeclear Nigeria Eye Health Programme.
In his presentation, Sunday Terhemen, the NTD Technical Manager, said that Nigeria “is one of the most endemic countries in the world accounting for 25 per cent of Africa’s NTD burden.”
He explained that in 2024, over 653 million Neglected Tropical Diseases treatment were administered in Nigeria, helping 84 local government areas to attend Trachoma Elimination Threshold.
Similarly, the Senior Media Officer, Inclusion, Julius Omokhunu,
emphasised the importance of reporting issues around people with disability and urged the media practitioners to focus more attention on disability-related stories towards promoting social inclusion.
Newsmen reports that the meeting seeks to share updates on Sightsavers’ programmes, impact of the organisation on the society and to strengthen collaboration with the media.qq
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