‘Seeing after 45 years of blindness is my greatest joy’ Trachoma survivor

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Abubakar Buba, a father of six children from Bauchi State, has revealed his struggle with Tacohma, a neglected tropical disease that leads to his blindness for 45 years.

Buba, a farmer, spoke to our correspondent on Thursday in Bauchi, at the closure of trachoma trichiasis  (TT) project and handing over the transition plan to the Government of Bauchi State by Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS) in collaboration with Sightsavers.

“I became partially blind the age of one after falling sick,” he said.

“I was treated by a local barber the condition did not improve.

Dr Rilwanu Mohammed who represented Commissioner for Health, Dr Adamu Umar Sambo

“10 years ago I became totally blind because the condition was already affecting the other eye.

“When my children quarrel with others in the community, they used to insult them and called them children of a blind man”

However, respite came Buba’s one day and his joy knew no bounds since then

The farmer said he was visited by a team from the Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS) two years ago.

“They came to my house in Badara, Kirfi local government and after some talk, their surgeon operated my eyes,” he said,

Participants at the Tracomatous Trichiasis lose Out and handing over ceremony in Bauchi

“Now I do not shed tears, my eyes are no longer paining me, I can see clearly now. You won’t even know that was once blind in one eye. I am so happy”

Speaking at the closure ceremony held at Hazibah Hotel, Yelwa, Bauchi, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adamu Umar Sambo, said tacoma remains the world’s leading cause of blindness, among neglected tropical diseases, NTDs

 “We as government will put efforts in place to ensure the elimination of all the NTDs by the year 2030, “ Sambo said

Represented by the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, the Commissioner expressed joy that most of the eye surgeries were successful.

“The Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed is committed to the health and well-being of the people of Bauchi state,” he said.

“Bauchi State Government appreciates your efforts for conducting capacity building to 20 Ophthalmic Nurses on trachomatous trichiasis surgery (TT Surgeon) and training of 40 Health Care Workers (TT Surgeon Assistants), 17,912 Community, Directed Distributors as case finders. 2 Programmatic Supervisors and 2 Technical Supervisors”

A Cross section of participants at the close out ceremony of HANDS in Bauchi

Sambo disclosed that other supports provided were the establishment of Static Centers in 19 Local Government Areas and operation of 13,507 patients with trachomatous trichiasis from 2017 to 2023.

“We as government want to assure you that, all your efforts shall never be in vain. It will impress you to know that we are collaborating with other partners like, UNICEF, MITOSATH and Bauchi RUWASSA to eliminate NTDs in Bauchi state,” he added.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank FMoH, HANDS, and SIGTHSAVERS international for extending the collaborative hands to the Ministry through the NTDs program and other platforms for the health and well-being of our people. Let me use this opportunity to reaffirm more on the support and commitment of Bauchi State government”

In a remarks, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Hauwa Abubakar commended all the partners for coming together to fight the menace of tracoma and trichiasis in Bauchi state.

She stressed that it is part of the priorities of the Ministry under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister, Prof Ali Pate in fighting NTDs across the country in partnerships.

Hauwa Abubakar on behalf of the Ministry assured that support for effective and efficient healthcare service delivery will continue to be given to the State.

Also speaking, the Director of HANDS, Dr Innocent Emereuwa said that the project which was executed fot Seven years from 2027 has achieved tremendous successes as it was able to identify and treat many victims of the disease across the state.

He appreciated the support staff who worked tirelessly among the communites stressing that without them, the success will not have been recorded.

Emereuwa urged the State Government to pick it up from where Sightsavers and HANDS are closing out stressing that efforts must be intensified to fight NTDs in the state.

Giving an overview of the project, NTS Coordinator for Bauchi State, Nasiru Haruna Zwall, disclosed that at least 13, 000 tracoma surgeries have been carried out in the state since inception in 2017.

Buba, one of the beneficiaries of the tracoma surgery,  said he life has a new meaning because he  was almost going blind before the intervention by the Project which took him for surgery and now, he has regained his full sight.