World Sight Day was observed in Nilphamari through various programs. To mark the occasion, a rally was brought out on Thursday (October 8) morning from the premises of the Upazila Health and Family Planning Office, organized by the Civil Surgeon’s Office with the support of the BRAC Health Programme and VisionSpring.
The rally paraded through the city’s main thoroughfares. Afterward, a discussion meeting was held in the Civil Surgeon’s conference room. Speakers at the meeting included Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Abdur Razzaq, Medical Officer of the Civil Surgeon’s Office Dr. Atiur Rahman Sheikh, BRAC Health Programme Area Manager Md. Shahinur Islam, and BRAC Tuberculosis Control Programme District Manager Md. Kamruzzaman, among others.
The speakers stated that the eye is one of the most vital organs of our lives; therefore, maintaining good vision requires paying proper attention to eye health and ensuring eye protection. Special emphasis must be placed on children’s eyesight; it is essential to curb their addiction to mobile phones and ensure they receive proper care. Additionally, children should be provided with local fruits and nutritious foods to support their eye health. Later, the Civil Surgeon inspected eye examination activities at a combined camp held in Itakhola Munshipara, Sadar Upazila.
Md. Shahinur Islam, Area Manager of the BRAC Health Programme, outlined their health-related activities during the discussion meeting. Over the past year, 936 eye screening camps were organized across six upazilas of the district. A total of 57,502 individuals aged between 35 and 55 received free services at these camps. Among the 21,845 recipients treated for near-vision issues, 11,498 were provided with spectacles, while the others were referred elsewhere with prescriptions and appropriate advice.