Adamawa
state has population of about 3.5 million
was created in August 1991 out of the former Gongola
state with four administrative divisions namely
Adamawa , Ganye , Mubi and Numan.
These divisions have been split into 21 local government
area. There are more than 70 tribes & dialects.
Hausa and Fulani are the major
The Challenge:
Nigeria’s rural communities have a high
incidence of eye problems like Cataracts, river
blindness, Glaucoma etc. Nigerians are predisposed
to these eye problems because of poor dietary
habits, extremes of heat and other harsh climatic
conditions.
Ophthalmic Facilities are scarce and expensive.
There is no eye hospital in entire Adamawa State.
Due to lack of Ophthalmic facility in the
vicinity, people suffering from cataract blindness
have to resolve to “couching”, a
traditional method which temporarily improves
the visibility by knocking down the cataract
with a sharp or blunt object, often leading
to blindness at a later date.
The Tulsi Chanrai Foundation,
a charitable, philanthropic and non-profit
voluntary organization is engaged in community
development activities focusing on the areas
of primary health care, eye care services
and drinking water supply. The Project is
sponsored by Vision for the Future
Trust and FMCL.
With the experience gained by Tulsi
Chanrai Foundation over the past
one and half decades, TCF established an
Eye Hospital at Yola with the partnership
with Adamawa State Government
serve the people by providing high quality
eye care.
Official Inauguration of the Project
The official inauguration
was done on 21.04.06 by His Excellency
Vice President , Republic of Nigeria Alh.
Atiku Abubakar (GCON ).
His Excellency
Governor of Adamawa State Boni Haurna ,
Bello Tukur , Deputy Governor , Pithon P
Power , Secretary to the State Government
and other government officials visited the
project. Trustees, President and vice presidents
of Abti American University interacted with
the operated patients.
The Methodology
The following procedures are
involved in the implementation of the Eye
Care Programme:
Preliminary Examination
and Investigations
Surgery & Post operative Care
Follow up
Preliminary Examination
Blind and visually handicapped
persons who need Cataract, Glaucoma and Pterygium
excision surgery are identified at the Specialist
Hospital Eye Clinic and further referred to
the Eye Hospital.
Eye Hospital - Surgery & Post
operative Care
At the Eye Hospital - further
investigations, surgery, Post operative medication
and accommodation are provided totally free
of cost.
Activities at Yola Eye Hospital
At the Eye Centre, eye
screenings are done twice a week on Mondays
and Thursdays to select patients for Cataract
operations. The referred patients undergo
the following examinations:
Preliminary Examination
General Fitness
Intra ocular Pressure And Duct Patency
Slit lamp examination
Keratometry
Ultrasound A-Scan
The selected patients are then given appointments
for surgery on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s
and Friday’s of each week.
The Hospital has all the latest equipments
and a state of art operation theatre complex.
On an average 60 free surgeries
are being performed per week.
The Eye Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State has
a capacity of 60 beds.
Post Operative care and Follow up.
Round the clock post operative
care is provided. Eye drops are instilled
at regular intervals to the patients.
Patients are educated on care of their
eyes before discharge and are provided with
written instructions on drug schedule and
postoperative care.
Patients are reviewed at the Eye Hospital
on 30th day post operatively. All undergo
vision test to evaluate the degree of sight
restoration after surgery. Medicines are
also given free of cost during this visit.
Eye Hospital - Surgery & Post
operative Care
At the Eye Hospital - further
investigations, surgery, Post operative medication
and accommodation are provided totally free
of cost.
