Far North: BIR launches free health campaign to fight against cataract, visual impairment
By Nde Laura
Cataracts and visual impairment are reported to be some of the major health challenges faced by the population of the Far north region.
To fight against this disease the Rapid Intervention Battalion unit of the Cameroon army, BIR, has organized a free consultation campaign in the Mayo Kaney division of the Far north region.
The ongoing campaign has recorded about 1600 consultations.
“We are launching lots of health campaigns all over the country but we realized that in the Far North region especially there is just one prevailing disease which is Cataract and blindness. We came up with the idea to do a specific health campaign against blindness,”. The general coordinator of the BIR, Colonel Francoise Pelene explained.
CNA gathered that the persons consulted were diagnosed with various eye diseases. Out of the 1600 persons consulted 138 of them have regained their sight.
“We have something like 1600 consultations from various eye diseases among them 275 cataract surgeries and the surgeries turned out successful,”. He explains.
A beneficiary expressed his satisfaction with the initiative as he regained his sight.
“ I went to the central hospital before and did an eye surgery but it was not successful. But today thanks to the campaign I have regained my sight,”.
The Senior Divisional officer of the Mayo Kaney division, Njoya Abduh, has saluted the initiative and work carried out by the BIR and encourages the population to seize the opportunity by going for screening.
