World Sight
Day was Saturday commemorated in Gunjur in Kombo South in the West Coast
Region.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Universal access to eye heath care and no to unavoidable blindness.”
Speaking on behalf of the alkalo of Gunjur, Kawsu Jobe Touray thanked the community of Gunjur and Sight Savers International for commemorating the day, as part of preventing blindness in the country. Amie Sonn said many become blind due to injury, and from natural causes.
Sonn also thanked Sight Savers International for commemorating the day, adding that health is the number priority of the government of the Gambia in its strides to realize Vision 2020.
Sonn hailed Sight Savers International and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for their commitment toward eliminating blindness in the country.
Balla M. Jobe, a representative of Sight Savers International, said the organization in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is committed to eliminating blindness in the country.
Jobe revealed that cataract is the leading cause of blindness in The Gambia, and that more than 16,000 cataract operations were done in past years by Sight Savers International.
Mamudou Jawla, a representative of the governor of West Coast Region, said one million three thousand people are blind in the world.
Jawla thanked Sight Savers International and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for their tireless efforts to eliminate the causes of blindness in the country.
Alagie Kitim Barrow applauded Sight Savers International and Ministry of Health for commemorating the day.
