A two-week free eye clinic has opened in Akon Payam of South Sudan’s Warrap state to treat eye diseases in the area.
The National Ministry of Health Director for Eye Care Service Ali Yusuf Ngor said over 500 people have been screened and 200 of them will be operated for trachoma and cataracts, Radio Miraya reported. He said the prevalence of eye problems is between 30 and 40 percent in some parts of the county.
“The eye problem is a very big problem in South Sudan. Blindness has a lot socio-economic impact in the community,” Ali said. “If you look at the prevalence of some eye conditions in South Sudan, it is beyond 30 or 40 per cent in some areas. If these people are not taken care of definitely and they go blind.”
Ali said the clinic is the first ever eye camp to be sponsored by the national government. Akon is the home payam of President Salva Kiir.