Chizokho Vero
September 18
Kohima (MExN): Nagaland’s 20 lakh population has only 10 eye specialists spread over four of its districts. Sources told The Morung Express that little attention has been given towards eye care education by the government. Simultaneously, the general public has also displayed a low level of awareness on proper eye care.
10 eye specialists are posted in the districts of Kohima, Mokokchung, Dimapur and Zunheboto. It is not immediately known whether the government has any proposal to provide eye specialists to the remaining seven districts. Nagaland too observes the nationwide Eye Donation Fortnight every year. However, the State is yet to own Eye Banks and Eye Collection Centers. The prevalence rate of blindness in Nagaland stands at 1.05 percent according to a survey conducted by Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati. Nagaland has about 20, 000 blind persons. Free eye camps were earlier held from time to time under the aegis of the National Programme for Control of Blindness, Directorate of Health Services, Nagaland. Programme Officer Dr Takonuksung told The Morung Express that the department was targeting 500 cataract eye operations this year. Under the Vision Screening in School Children programme, the department aims to provide training to 200 teachers across Nagaland, Lemtur added.
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