[Music] so I came round
so I came round
so I came round [Music]
I had expected I would talk to you for
I had expected I would talk to you for 20 minutes and if we had 20 minutes I
20 minutes and if we had 20 minutes I
20 minutes and if we had 20 minutes I have less than that noun by the end of a
have less than that noun by the end of a
have less than that noun by the end of a 20 minute talk 1220 people will be blind
20 minute talk 1220 people will be blind
20 minute talk 1220 people will be blind in our world because as you may know
in our world because as you may know
in our world because as you may know every second somebody goes blind every
every second somebody goes blind every
every second somebody goes blind every minute a child goes blind of the over
minute a child goes blind of the over
minute a child goes blind of the over five hundred and twelve thousand
five hundred and twelve thousand
five hundred and twelve thousand children who will go blind in 2016
children who will go blind in 2016
children who will go blind in 2016 half of them will not live to see their
half of them will not live to see their
half of them will not live to see their next birthday some will be killed by the
next birthday some will be killed by the
next birthday some will be killed by the same condition that caused the a
same condition that caused the a
same condition that caused the a blindness others will be killed because
blindness others will be killed because
blindness others will be killed because we don’t have an inclusive society our
we don’t have an inclusive society our
we don’t have an inclusive society our people don’t know how to take care of
people don’t know how to take care of
people don’t know how to take care of the blind for those who survive their
the blind for those who survive their
the blind for those who survive their blindness especially in developing
blindness especially in developing
blindness especially in developing countries like Nigeria when nine out of
countries like Nigeria when nine out of
countries like Nigeria when nine out of every ten blind person lives life can be
every ten blind person lives life can be
every ten blind person lives life can be held if an adult goes blind a child
held if an adult goes blind a child
held if an adult goes blind a child drops out of school to lead the blind
drops out of school to lead the blind
drops out of school to lead the blind adult to learn to bathe every day this
adult to learn to bathe every day this
adult to learn to bathe every day this child struggle with hopelessness many of
child struggle with hopelessness many of
child struggle with hopelessness many of them have lost their youth you will see
them have lost their youth you will see
them have lost their youth you will see Sylvia leading the father on the next
Sylvia leading the father on the next
Sylvia leading the father on the next slide let’s point to Sylvia you will see
slide let’s point to Sylvia you will see
slide let’s point to Sylvia you will see the swelling on her face that swelling
the swelling on her face that swelling
the swelling on her face that swelling on her face is not the Mac of the beast
on her face is not the Mac of the beast
on her face is not the Mac of the beast it is the beginning of the next
it is the beginning of the next
it is the beginning of the next generation of blindness that is an audio
generation of blindness that is an audio
generation of blindness that is an audio caused by the microfilaria warm on
caused by the microfilaria warm on
caused by the microfilaria warm on Kousaka volvulus river blindness and
Kousaka volvulus river blindness and
Kousaka volvulus river blindness and that has caused the blindness of many
that has caused the blindness of many
that has caused the blindness of many people Cross River State is an endemic
people Cross River State is an endemic
people Cross River State is an endemic community for river blindness
community for river blindness
community for river blindness but the good news I want to share with
but the good news I want to share with
but the good news I want to share with you is that fortunately little Silvia
you is that fortunately little Silvia
you is that fortunately little Silvia will not have to live with blindness the
will not have to live with blindness the
will not have to live with blindness the pharmaceutical giant makes sharp and
pharmaceutical giant makes sharp and
pharmaceutical giant makes sharp and dome as corporate social responsibility
dome as corporate social responsibility
dome as corporate social responsibility donated medicine freely for the world so
donated medicine freely for the world so
donated medicine freely for the world so that we can prevent blindness from river
that we can prevent blindness from river
that we can prevent blindness from river blindness but that’s not how Sylvia’s
blindness but that’s not how Sylvia’s
blindness but that’s not how Sylvia’s blindness will be presented Silvia will
blindness will be presented Silvia will
blindness will be presented Silvia will not go blind because there is a
not go blind because there is a
not go blind because there is a volunteer in a village free of charge
volunteer in a village free of charge
volunteer in a village free of charge who make sure everybody infected with
who make sure everybody infected with
who make sure everybody infected with river blindness gets their annual dose
river blindness gets their annual dose
river blindness gets their annual dose of the medicine there is an association
of the medicine there is an association
of the medicine there is an association between blindness and poverty in a
between blindness and poverty in a
between blindness and poverty in a high-tech economy where precise vision
high-tech economy where precise vision
high-tech economy where precise vision is needed to develop the software the
is needed to develop the software the
is needed to develop the software the blind the visually impaired excluded and
blind the visually impaired excluded and
blind the visually impaired excluded and there is a vicious cycle where poverty
there is a vicious cycle where poverty
there is a vicious cycle where poverty causes blindness and poverty becomes a
causes blindness and poverty becomes a
causes blindness and poverty becomes a consequence of blindness so it’s either
consequence of blindness so it’s either
consequence of blindness so it’s either your blindness is caused by poverty or
your blindness is caused by poverty or
your blindness is caused by poverty or your blindness will make you poor in
your blindness will make you poor in
your blindness will make you poor in Nigeria the national prevalence study
Nigeria the national prevalence study
Nigeria the national prevalence study for blindness gear was the prevalence of
for blindness gear was the prevalence of
for blindness gear was the prevalence of blindness of 1.5 million people flying
blindness of 1.5 million people flying
blindness of 1.5 million people flying in Nigeria that’s just a little below
in Nigeria that’s just a little below
in Nigeria that’s just a little below the population of BIOS estate so we can
the population of BIOS estate so we can
the population of BIOS estate so we can create a whole state of blind people for
create a whole state of blind people for
create a whole state of blind people for every one person that is blind there are
every one person that is blind there are
every one person that is blind there are six to seven other people living with
six to seven other people living with
six to seven other people living with severe visual impairment and that number
severe visual impairment and that number
severe visual impairment and that number for Nigeria stands at about 19 million
for Nigeria stands at about 19 million
for Nigeria stands at about 19 million think about it that’s the population of
think about it that’s the population of
think about it that’s the population of some African or European countries what
some African or European countries what
some African or European countries what makes Nigeria’s blindness completely
makes Nigeria’s blindness completely
makes Nigeria’s blindness completely unacceptable and even obscene is that 85
unacceptable and even obscene is that 85
unacceptable and even obscene is that 85 of the people living with blindness in
of the people living with blindness in
of the people living with blindness in Nigeria avoidable blind this blindness
Nigeria avoidable blind this blindness
Nigeria avoidable blind this blindness that we could have prevented or
that we could have prevented or
that we could have prevented or blindness that we have the know-how and
blindness that we have the know-how and
blindness that we have the know-how and technology to change that’s what makes
technology to change that’s what makes
technology to change that’s what makes essa the WH o International
essa the WH o International
essa the WH o International classification of diseases defines
classification of diseases defines
classification of diseases defines blindness as inability to see at a
blindness as inability to see at a
blindness as inability to see at a discount fingers at a distance of three
discount fingers at a distance of three
discount fingers at a distance of three meters without the best in the better
meters without the best in the better
meters without the best in the better eye with the best optical correction the
eye with the best optical correction the
eye with the best optical correction the makers of that definition made one
makers of that definition made one
makers of that definition made one assumption that everybody who is
assumption that everybody who is
assumption that everybody who is visually impaired will have the optical
visually impaired will have the optical
visually impaired will have the optical correction glasses just a pair of
correction glasses just a pair of
correction glasses just a pair of glasses can prevent blindness in Cross
glasses can prevent blindness in Cross
glasses can prevent blindness in Cross River State the leading cause of
River State the leading cause of
River State the leading cause of blindness is error of refraction a pair
blindness is error of refraction a pair
blindness is error of refraction a pair of glasses can change everything in
of glasses can change everything in
of glasses can change everything in Algeria error of refraction is
Algeria error of refraction is
Algeria error of refraction is responsible for 57 percent of a visual
responsible for 57 percent of a visual
responsible for 57 percent of a visual impairment as a country as a country the
impairment as a country as a country the
impairment as a country as a country the leading cause of blindness is cataract
cataract cataracts which can be reversed
cataract cataracts which can be reversed just by surgery this white thing that
just by surgery this white thing that
just by surgery this white thing that you see in the eye you will not see it
you see in the eye you will not see it
you see in the eye you will not see it in other advanced countries because now
in other advanced countries because now
in other advanced countries because now cataract surgery is not done to reverse
cataract surgery is not done to reverse
cataract surgery is not done to reverse blindness as we do it here it is done to
blindness as we do it here it is done to
blindness as we do it here it is done to prevent visual impairment next to
prevent visual impairment next to
prevent visual impairment next to cataract in our environment is glaucoma
cataract in our environment is glaucoma
cataract in our environment is glaucoma after glaucoma in Nigeria is trachoma
after glaucoma in Nigeria is trachoma
after glaucoma in Nigeria is trachoma responsible for 15% of Nigeria’s
responsible for 15% of Nigeria’s
responsible for 15% of Nigeria’s blindness staggering figure when you
blindness staggering figure when you
blindness staggering figure when you consider that trachoma was eliminated
consider that trachoma was eliminated
consider that trachoma was eliminated from Europe in the 19th century
from Europe in the 19th century
from Europe in the 19th century trachoma is a disease that is associated
trachoma is a disease that is associated
trachoma is a disease that is associated with the lack of potable water and a
with the lack of potable water and a
with the lack of potable water and a poor environment
poor environment
poor environment in town sanitation it’s not something
in town sanitation it’s not something
in town sanitation it’s not something that should be mentioned in Nigeria but
that should be mentioned in Nigeria but
that should be mentioned in Nigeria but today it is the third leading cause of
today it is the third leading cause of
today it is the third leading cause of blindness in our country the imaging
blindness in our country the imaging
blindness in our country the imaging blindness caused which will take us by
blindness caused which will take us by
blindness caused which will take us by storm it’s diabetes diabetes mellitus
storm it’s diabetes diabetes mellitus
storm it’s diabetes diabetes mellitus epidemic is upon us it’s expected that
epidemic is upon us it’s expected that
epidemic is upon us it’s expected that in the next decade the percentage of
in the next decade the percentage of
in the next decade the percentage of people with diabetes will increase by
people with diabetes will increase by
people with diabetes will increase by 109 percent by 2025 there will be over
109 percent by 2025 there will be over
109 percent by 2025 there will be over 500 million people living – in Europe in
500 million people living – in Europe in
500 million people living – in Europe in in the Middle East is this a status
in the Middle East is this a status
in the Middle East is this a status symbol if you are not a diabetic you
symbol if you are not a diabetic you
symbol if you are not a diabetic you haven’t made it but it comes with
haven’t made it but it comes with
haven’t made it but it comes with blindness is going to be the leading
blindness is going to be the leading
blindness is going to be the leading cause of blindness in them working age
cause of blindness in them working age
cause of blindness in them working age group with profound socio-economic
group with profound socio-economic
group with profound socio-economic significance as socio-economical it
significance as socio-economical it
significance as socio-economical it marginalized population at particular
marginalized population at particular
marginalized population at particular risk we have the tools to eliminate
risk we have the tools to eliminate
risk we have the tools to eliminate avoidable blindness but it it persists
avoidable blindness but it it persists
avoidable blindness but it it persists because of inequity in access to I K it
because of inequity in access to I K it
because of inequity in access to I K it persists because we have not released
persists because we have not released
persists because we have not released the human compassion that is necessary
the human compassion that is necessary
the human compassion that is necessary to make a difference in 1996 I turned
to make a difference in 1996 I turned
to make a difference in 1996 I turned down several jobs outside the country to
down several jobs outside the country to
down several jobs outside the country to accept a job in the university of
accept a job in the university of
accept a job in the university of caliban University of caliber Teaching
caliban University of caliber Teaching
caliban University of caliber Teaching Hospital had a salary less than 200% of
Hospital had a salary less than 200% of
Hospital had a salary less than 200% of the office I had when I arrived the
the office I had when I arrived the
the office I had when I arrived the hospital there was it a blind beggar as
hospital there was it a blind beggar as
hospital there was it a blind beggar as a permanent fixture at the hospital gate
a permanent fixture at the hospital gate
a permanent fixture at the hospital gate for two years I walked past this man but
for two years I walked past this man but
for two years I walked past this man but I never saw him I saw his plate
I never saw him I saw his plate
I never saw him I saw his plate occasionally I stopped by and dropped a
occasionally I stopped by and dropped a
occasionally I stopped by and dropped a coin but I never saw the man one
coin but I never saw the man one
coin but I never saw the man one afternoon my wife didn’t come to pick me
afternoon my wife didn’t come to pick me
afternoon my wife didn’t come to pick me up on time so I stopped by the gate and
up on time so I stopped by the gate and
up on time so I stopped by the gate and had a chat with the man I would just
had a chat with the man I would just
had a chat with the man I would just wanted to know his name usually he had
wanted to know his name usually he had
wanted to know his name usually he had a lot of sauce so you deal want to stay
a lot of sauce so you deal want to stay
a lot of sauce so you deal want to stay there for too long but I stopped and
there for too long but I stopped and
there for too long but I stopped and asked his name and I was impressed by
asked his name and I was impressed by
asked his name and I was impressed by this diction his English was impeccable
this diction his English was impeccable
this diction his English was impeccable I suddenly realized that this man hadn’t
I suddenly realized that this man hadn’t
I suddenly realized that this man hadn’t always been poor
always been poor
always been poor he had dabba teas he developed cat rot
he had dabba teas he developed cat rot
he had dabba teas he developed cat rot he lost his job and when he lost his job
he lost his job and when he lost his job
he lost his job and when he lost his job his wife left him and his world came
his wife left him and his world came
his wife left him and his world came crumbling apart he moved to the hospital
crumbling apart he moved to the hospital
crumbling apart he moved to the hospital get he begged for food to eat and bed
get he begged for food to eat and bed
get he begged for food to eat and bed for medicines it wasn’t long many of the
for medicines it wasn’t long many of the
for medicines it wasn’t long many of the doctors knew him many of the doctors
doctors knew him many of the doctors
doctors knew him many of the doctors knew Big Joe so he could get free
knew Big Joe so he could get free
knew Big Joe so he could get free consultation on top of it so I invited
consultation on top of it so I invited
consultation on top of it so I invited big to the hospital and big cataract
big to the hospital and big cataract
big to the hospital and big cataract surgery on him free of charge
surgery on him free of charge
surgery on him free of charge Big Joe came for only one post-op visit
Big Joe came for only one post-op visit
Big Joe came for only one post-op visit and disappeared six months later the
and disappeared six months later the
and disappeared six months later the young man that walked into my office to
young man that walked into my office to
young man that walked into my office to say thank you to me I did not recognize
say thank you to me I did not recognize
say thank you to me I did not recognize him he said doctor you don’t recognize
him he said doctor you don’t recognize
him he said doctor you don’t recognize me I said no way have we met it’s a
me I said no way have we met it’s a
me I said no way have we met it’s a doctor I am Big Joe I brought my wife
doctor I am Big Joe I brought my wife
doctor I am Big Joe I brought my wife I brought my child to come and say thank
I brought my child to come and say thank
I brought my child to come and say thank you to you one act of kindness that cost
you to you one act of kindness that cost
you to you one act of kindness that cost me nothing reunited a family change the
me nothing reunited a family change the
me nothing reunited a family change the economic circumstance of this man and
economic circumstance of this man and
economic circumstance of this man and let impact in his community in 1993 I
let impact in his community in 1993 I
let impact in his community in 1993 I led the team that conducted the new
led the team that conducted the new
led the team that conducted the new boosted survey of blindness and visual
boosted survey of blindness and visual
boosted survey of blindness and visual impairment on the last day of that trip
impairment on the last day of that trip
impairment on the last day of that trip I was involved in a road traffic
I was involved in a road traffic
I was involved in a road traffic accident
that day I was the only person who came
that day I was the only person who came out of the wreckage the people who
out of the wreckage the people who
out of the wreckage the people who rescued my body from the wreckage forgot
rescued my body from the wreckage forgot
rescued my body from the wreckage forgot my left here that day I lost many things
my left here that day I lost many things
my left here that day I lost many things I lost friends for my friends perished
I lost friends for my friends perished
I lost friends for my friends perished in that accident with the driver of the
in that accident with the driver of the
in that accident with the driver of the vehicle I lost many things but I found
vehicle I lost many things but I found
vehicle I lost many things but I found something I found human compassion there
something I found human compassion there
something I found human compassion there were strangers on the roadside who were
were strangers on the roadside who were
were strangers on the roadside who were willing to do everything me alive they
willing to do everything me alive they
willing to do everything me alive they carried my body they did everything took
carried my body they did everything took
carried my body they did everything took me to the hospital where I had treatment
me to the hospital where I had treatment
me to the hospital where I had treatment I have had several treatments I have had
I have had several treatments I have had
I have had several treatments I have had a lot of reconstructive surgeries in the
a lot of reconstructive surgeries in the
a lot of reconstructive surgeries in the accident my jaw was crushed and mangled
accident my jaw was crushed and mangled
accident my jaw was crushed and mangled so my just stands today as a tribute to
so my just stands today as a tribute to
so my just stands today as a tribute to an outstanding maxillofacial surgeon
an outstanding maxillofacial surgeon
an outstanding maxillofacial surgeon I’ve had many reconstructions I was a
I’ve had many reconstructions I was a
I’ve had many reconstructions I was a senior registrar in ophthalmology that
senior registrar in ophthalmology that
senior registrar in ophthalmology that means the rank just below consultant but
means the rank just below consultant but
means the rank just below consultant but when I was released from hospital if I
when I was released from hospital if I
when I was released from hospital if I had to work to pay for my bill he would
had to work to pay for my bill he would
had to work to pay for my bill he would have taken me 15 years of saving all my
have taken me 15 years of saving all my
have taken me 15 years of saving all my income to pay for my hospital bill
income to pay for my hospital bill
income to pay for my hospital bill because like 99.2% of the Nigerian
because like 99.2% of the Nigerian
because like 99.2% of the Nigerian population who are not covered in the
population who are not covered in the
population who are not covered in the National Health Insurance Scheme I had
National Health Insurance Scheme I had
National Health Insurance Scheme I had no insurance I could not pay when I went
no insurance I could not pay when I went
no insurance I could not pay when I went to the medical director of the hospital
to the medical director of the hospital
to the medical director of the hospital to negotiate how I will work for him to
to negotiate how I will work for him to
to negotiate how I will work for him to settle my bill he looked at me and said
settle my bill he looked at me and said
settle my bill he looked at me and said dr. Khanna I’m talking about doctor this
dr. Khanna I’m talking about doctor this
dr. Khanna I’m talking about doctor this Jochen quad of blessed memory he looked
Jochen quad of blessed memory he looked
Jochen quad of blessed memory he looked at me
at me
at me dr. Khanna we are happy you are life I
dr. Khanna we are happy you are life I
dr. Khanna we are happy you are life I will settle the bill
will settle the bill
will settle the bill a man’s kindness the kindness that we
a man’s kindness the kindness that we
a man’s kindness the kindness that we have in our society wrote of my bill he
have in our society wrote of my bill he
have in our society wrote of my bill he gave me back my life when I was released
gave me back my life when I was released
gave me back my life when I was released from the hospital I determined that I
from the hospital I determined that I
from the hospital I determined that I will make my life count we have human
will make my life count we have human
will make my life count we have human compassion it is from this sea of human
compassion it is from this sea of human
compassion it is from this sea of human compassion that I hope we can work
compassion that I hope we can work
compassion that I hope we can work together to prevent and eliminate
together to prevent and eliminate
together to prevent and eliminate avoidable blindness the World Health
avoidable blindness the World Health
avoidable blindness the World Health Organization has a program drawn up
Organization has a program drawn up
Organization has a program drawn up elimination of avoidable blindness based
elimination of avoidable blindness based
elimination of avoidable blindness based on a strategic try part of human
on a strategic try part of human
on a strategic try part of human resource development infrastructure and
resource development infrastructure and
resource development infrastructure and technology and the development of
technology and the development of
technology and the development of specific targeted disease action but
specific targeted disease action but
specific targeted disease action but what is lacking is human passion and
what is lacking is human passion and
what is lacking is human passion and compassion to drive this program that
compassion to drive this program that
compassion to drive this program that was done by a committee of experts
was done by a committee of experts
was done by a committee of experts Nigeria had signed on to this November
Nigeria had signed on to this November
Nigeria had signed on to this November 2007 but since then health sector
2007 but since then health sector
2007 but since then health sector allocation has continued to dwindle
allocation has continued to dwindle
allocation has continued to dwindle unless we rise together and shout from
unless we rise together and shout from
unless we rise together and shout from the rooftop we will continue to have
the rooftop we will continue to have
the rooftop we will continue to have these appalling blindness indices we
these appalling blindness indices we
these appalling blindness indices we have what it takes but we need passion
have what it takes but we need passion
have what it takes but we need passion dangerous a country does not have a
dangerous a country does not have a
dangerous a country does not have a diabetic retinopathy screening and
diabetic retinopathy screening and
diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment program but we have one in
treatment program but we have one in
treatment program but we have one in Cross River State we have one in the
Cross River State we have one in the
Cross River State we have one in the teaching hospital we screen people for
teaching hospital we screen people for
teaching hospital we screen people for free we expect that with a prevalence of
free we expect that with a prevalence of
free we expect that with a prevalence of 6.5 percent of diabetes in a city in
6.5 percent of diabetes in a city in
6.5 percent of diabetes in a city in Caliban we have 10,000 people living
Caliban we have 10,000 people living
Caliban we have 10,000 people living with diabetes we have 2,500 people
with diabetes we have 2,500 people
with diabetes we have 2,500 people registered in our registry last year
registered in our registry last year
registered in our registry last year only 534 came out for free screening
only 534 came out for free screening
only 534 came out for free screening if you here can join us tell a hundred
if you here can join us tell a hundred
if you here can join us tell a hundred people in a month who have diabetes to
people in a month who have diabetes to
people in a month who have diabetes to come and screen their eyes you will be
come and screen their eyes you will be
come and screen their eyes you will be the real champion how many people what I
the real champion how many people what I
the real champion how many people what I discovered after my accident which I
discovered after my accident which I
discovered after my accident which I must mentioned before I sit down is that
must mentioned before I sit down is that
must mentioned before I sit down is that a driver had visual impairment and was
a driver had visual impairment and was
a driver had visual impairment and was not wearing his glasses a driver also
not wearing his glasses a driver also
not wearing his glasses a driver also had diabetes it’s possible that a pair
had diabetes it’s possible that a pair
had diabetes it’s possible that a pair of glasses would have saved his life how
of glasses would have saved his life how
of glasses would have saved his life how many people when you enter a cup ask
many people when you enter a cup ask
many people when you enter a cup ask your driver whether he does wear glasses
your driver whether he does wear glasses
your driver whether he does wear glasses how many people remember how many
how many people remember how many
how many people remember how many Nigerian drivers if you go to Madame
Nigerian drivers if you go to Madame
Nigerian drivers if you go to Madame Park will wear their glasses we can make
Park will wear their glasses we can make
Park will wear their glasses we can make a difference join me when you meet
a difference join me when you meet
a difference join me when you meet people ask them have you had your annual
people ask them have you had your annual
people ask them have you had your annual I check have you had your annual
I check have you had your annual
I check have you had your annual diabetic screening everybody should do
diabetic screening everybody should do
diabetic screening everybody should do it once in a year and everybody that has
it once in a year and everybody that has
it once in a year and everybody that has diabetes you can help invite them
diabetes you can help invite them
diabetes you can help invite them let us make our lives count
”
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