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| October 28, 2005 | Friday | Ramzan 23, 1426 |
Eye-care programme for Fata urged
PESHAWAR, Oct 27: Stressing the need for consolidating eye-care services to the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata), NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has asked the authorities concerned to form a committee to look into the possibility of putting in place a comprehensive eye-care programme in tribal areas.
He was presiding over a presentation ceremony on Comprehensive Eye-Care Programme (CECP) in Fata. The presentation was made by senior ophthalmologist Dr Mohammad Daud Khan here at the Governor’s House on Thursday.
Secretary Fata Arbab Mohammad Shahzad, Secretary to Governor Arbab Mohammad Arif and Director Health Fata Dr Ghulam Nabi Khan also attended the presentation.
The governor appreciated the achievements under the CECP in Fata describing it as a true service to humanity.
He urged the authorities concerned to work with more zeal and dedication to overcome eye diseases and bring down the ratio of blindness in the province as well as Fata.
Earlier, the chairman, Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology, Dr Mohammad Daud Khan in his detailed presentation highlighted the national eye care programme and analysed the situation regarding it since 1947.
He also mentioned the findings of the first-ever report prepared on the issue in 1980 and the first national survey conducted in 1987-90.
Regarding the CECP, he said that it was initiated in 1999 and is a district-based programme having a vast countrywide network of fully-equipped eye care facilities.
He said that the programme, initiated in 10 districts of the province and four tribal agencies, was generously supported by its international partners.
Referring to the impact of the programme on national, provincial and Fata level, Dr Daud said that it was highly encouraging as 63 districts were covered by the centres. Similarly, in the NWFP 14 secondary eye care centres were developed while five were under process. In Fata seven infrastructures have been created where more than 52,000 patients have been examined and surgeries done.
He said that the second national survey conducted in this regard witnessed a remarkable control over eye diseases proving the programme’s worth.
He said that human resource development in this particular field was the biggest challenge besides the coverage, output and outcome, sustainability and expansion.
He said that there was a big scope for extension of other elements of Vision 2020 to Fata, besides having the opportunity for public health education, enhancement of district management capacity and a good opportunity to provide an alternative model of service delivery.
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