title: The Rivers State, Nigeria Eye Care Program--the first few steps towards achieving V2020.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To outline the outcome of the first eye camp of the eye care program in Rivers state which was established only in 2008 to reduce the burden of blindness in the state as revealed by the Nigerian national blindness and visual impairment survey results released in 2008 as much as possible to the lowest before the year 2020.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive analysis of the activities of the Prevention of blindness committee, Rivers established in 2008 by the Ministry of health, Rivers state, Nigeria. An analysis of the first eye camp held at the Rumuigbo health center, Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt is also presented from the records made at the time of the camp. The activities were partly sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Rivers state. Data analysis was with the help of a statistician using SPSS version 11.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The recently released Nigerian National Survey on Blindness and Visual Impairment revealed that about 15,000 people are blind from cataract in Rivers state, Nigeria. Over a 3 day period to mark World Sight Day 2010, a total of 455 persons were screened for cataract surgery at the above venue. The mean age was 46.2 years (SD+/- 17.55) with an age range of 1 and half to 99 years. The male female ratio was 1:1. A total of 125 patients (27.5%) had cataract of which 83 were mature. Refractive error also affected 125 people (27.5%). Sixty-five people (14.3%) were suspected to have glaucoma while 13(2.9%) and 45 people (9.9%) presented with corneal opacities and allergic conjunctivitides respectively. Other conditions seen include conjunctival degenerations, inflammatory conditions, staphylomata etc. Cataract surgery was performed on 51 people (40.8% of those with all diagnosed with cataract and 61.4% of those with mature cataract. Other conditions that could not be treated on location were referred to the teaching hospital and the state hospital nearby. The postoperative cases were also referred to the same hospitals for followup. Follow up showed that majority (n=38, 74.5%) attained 6/24 to 6/60 VA range by the end of the first week with improvement to the 6/12 to 6/18 range by the end of the first month in 30 (58.8%) of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is highly desirable for periodic eye camps to take place in Rivers state as it was an eye opener that even within the township, most people who are avoidably blind are within easy reach of secondary and tertiary health facilities that can offer eye care. Satisfactory visual outcome was obtained in the majority of cases operated upon. Government is within their rights to fund subsequent programs adequately as their input is necessary for sustainability. This will help reduce the burden of the cataract blind in the state though it is not likely that V2020 will be achieved at the current rate.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. drdayoadio@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adedayo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*