FCT IDPs get free eye screening, others
A non-governmental organisation, Project HealthAID, conducted free eye screening for Internally Displaced Persons in Waru in the Federal Capital Territory. The medical team from the organisation identified refractive errors as
A non-governmental organisation, Project HealthAID, conducted free eye screening for Internally Displaced Persons in Waru in the Federal Capital Territory.
The medical team from the organisation identified refractive errors as the most common condition observed, alongside several cases of suspected glaucoma. All cases were documented and referred for specialist evaluation and follow-up care.
The organisation provided basic eye care support, including medications, eye drops, and prescription eyeglasses, where necessary, to children in the camp after the screening.
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The medical outreach was implemented as part of phase 2 of the organisation's child-focused health outreach at the Waru IDP Camp, titled “Project HealthAID Phase 2: Education, Screening, and Integrated Health Response for Children in IDP Camps.”
Phase 2 was implemented in collaboration with key partners, including the YieldUp Development Initiative, the FCT Public Health Department, Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS), and JIDEM Foundation.
Speaking after the exercise, Executive Director of Project HealthAID, Dr. Praise Akobo said that improving children’s vision directly enhances learning outcomes and long-term development.
Akobo said, “The goal of the medical outreach is to make sure that children and women living in displacement settings are not forgotten when it comes to health, dignity, and opportunity through our AID - Awareness, Intervention and Detection model.
“For children, that means teaching practical hygiene habits with demonstrations, health education, screening their vision so they can see clearly and learn confidently, and providing Mass Administration of Medicine to prevent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).”
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“For women and girls, it means delivering menstrual and reproductive health education in languages they understand, restoring dignity, and building skills that can improve both health and livelihoods.”
Akobo added that the organisation plans to scale up the medical outreach to other IDP camps in other states, especially in North-Central.
“This project began as a Personal Community Development Service (CDS) during my NYSC with four outreaches to different IDPs. After NYSC, it scaled to two more IDPs, which means 6 IDPs so far in Abuja, and will continue to demonstrate its commitment to reaching underserved populations with integrated, community-driven health solutions,” Akobo added.
