FIMA Year Book 2010-2011 - Federation of Islamic Medical ...

FIMA SAVE VISION IN NIGERIA
FIMA SAVE An Insider’s Account and Views
An Insider’s Account and Views
ENGR. Maimaje Ibrahim Abdullahi *and
Mohannad T. Ibrahim MD, FRCS(Glasg)
ENGR. Maimaje Ibrahim Abdullahi *
and Mohannad T. Ibrahim MD, FRCS(Glasg)
Abstract:
Nigeria is an example of a populous African nation, with prevalent and escalating visual
impairments, and significantly inadequate health professionals in eye care, which is more manifest in
rural areas. Avoidable blindness has been alarmingly on the increase.
Concerned Nigerian individuals and groups, realizing the achievements of the Save Vision Program
adopted by the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA), were successful in establishing a
collaborative, harmonious working relationship, whereby the concerned Nigerian groups insure the
needed local surveys, logistics in reception and hosting of medical teams from FIMA, bringing with
them volunteering experts in ophthalmology, medications, consumables and instruments to conduct
mass, free eye camps in needy regions of Nigeria.
This paper presents this successful collaboration with significant fruitful outcomes on the long road
to turn the tide in combating visual impairments in Nigeria.
Keywords: Visual impairments, cataract, Nigeria, FIMA Save Vision.
Introduction:
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa
with an estimate of 150 million (2008) 1 and a
gross domestic product (GDP) of $342 b, and
per capita of $2,249 (2009). Nigeria is the 6 th
largest producer of oil and a largely agrarian
rural population. However, despite its vast
natural and human resources, the health index of
the country is among the worst in the world. The
UN Human Development Index (HDI) has
placed Nigeria on the 145 th of 172 nations of the
world 2 .
Nigeria is generally faced with the problem of
inadequate health care delivery. Available
statistics on ophthalmic care have indicated that
in people over 40 years of age cataract accounts
for about 43% of around one million cases of
blindness 3 . This means that over 400,000 people
could regain their sight through good eye care
management. There are about 230 ophthalmic
doctors and 1200 ophthalmic nurses and
paramedics in Nigeria 4 , which is grossly
inadequate to provide basic eye care support
services, moreover, they are less available in
rural areas where a higher number of patients
need eye health services 3 . Even if the services
are available, most people cannot afford the
charges 5 . As a result, the figure of avoidable
blindness through cataract is on the increase at
an alarming proportion with an expected 0.6
million cataract patients in 2020 3 .
With this prevalence rate, the available eye care
facilities and eye care professionals, the chances
of helping people with cataract and enlightening
those within the risk group are very low.
*ENGR. Maimaje Ibrahim Abdullahi FNSE, FNIAE, FNIM
National Patron, FIMA Activities in Nigeria
E-mail: maimaje234@yahoo.com
FIMA YearBook 2010-2011
85