Cataracts cause 60pc of blindness in Afghanistan: MoPH — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Thursday said about 60 percent of blindness cases in Afghanistan are caused by cataracts, with more than 600,000 people blind and another 1.5 million suffering from visual impairment. The ministry shared the figures on World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October. This year, the day falls on October 8. World Sight Day is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations working in eye care. The day aims to raise awareness about eye health, prevent blindness and visual impairment and promote universal access to eye-care services. Mawlawi Abdul Wali Haqqani, deputy minister for health services delivery, said during a public awareness session marking the day that ensuring eye health, reducing blindness and preventing vision loss were among the ministry’s key priorities. He said providing equitable, transparent and accessible eye-care services to all people required joint efforts and greater attention to prevention and public awareness. “Timely diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases can prevent the progression of diseases and blindness among many people,” Haqqani said. He identified glaucoma, cataracts and vitamin A deficiency among the major eye-health problems in the country. Haqqani stressed that reducing blindness required more than treatment alone, saying greater focus…