In her comprehensive inaugural lecture at the Eleta Eye Institute in Ibadan, Professor Affiong Ibanga, a distinguished ophthalmologist, shed light on the myriad challenges facing the field of glaucoma care in Nigeria.
As she inaugurated the Odutola-Olurin Professorial Chair of Glaucoma Care Research in collaboration with Babcock University and launched the innovative Oyinade Glaucoma Auction (OGA) program, Ibanga emphasized the urgent need for a multifaceted approach to combat the pervasive issue of glaucoma, which stands as the foremost cause of irreversible blindness affecting one in every 20 individuals above the age of 40 in Nigeria.
Delving deeper into the intricacies of the disease, Ibanga underscored the necessity of personalized care in managing glaucoma, pointing out the unique characteristics of each patient that necessitate tailored treatment approaches.
Furthermore, she highlighted the significant impact of glaucoma on individuals’ daily lives, from visual impairments to limitations in mobility and social interactions, culminating in a diminished quality of life characterized by decreased independence and self-esteem.
Beyond the personal toll, Ibanga elucidated on the systemic challenges plaguing glaucoma care and research in Nigeria. Notably, she elucidated issues such as delayed diagnosis, a dearth of resources including skilled professionals and medications, deficient infrastructure, a fragmented health information system, and insufficient funding for essential research and development initiatives.
As Professor Ibanga passionately called for concerted efforts to address these multifaceted barriers, the urgency of ensuring effective glaucoma care in Nigeria and safeguarding individuals’ vision for the future was impressively underscored.
“There are many questions unanswered about glaucoma: what is the cure, how does it happen, what is the best treatment modality for it in our environment, and what is the best way to detect glaucoma? We don’t know all of these.
“So, the Odutola-Olurin Professorial Chair of Glaucoma Care Research is about placing a high premium on vision. The challenges of glaucoma are enormous, and this centre hopes to contribute to the standard of care for glaucoma. We know that without research, that standard of care cannot happen.”
The Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Professor Ademola Tayo, who was represented by the Provost of the Benjamin Carson College of Health Science, Professor John Sotunsa, highlighted that the creation of the Professorial Chair in Glaucoma Care aims to foster collaboration between the two institutions through research to develop solutions for glaucoma and its related challenges.
During the event, Chairman of Eleta Eye Foundation, Dr Gboyega Ajayi, introduced OGA as an innovative fundraising auction that allows bidders to contribute towards glaucoma care and research, inspired by the renowned figure Oyinade Odutola-Olurin in the field of glaucoma.
He further mentioned that donors who generously support the partnership to combat visual loss and impairment resulting from glaucoma will have the chance to leave a lasting legacy by having research activities, outcomes, and physical facilities named after them or their nominees.
Prior to this, the Group Medical Director of Eleta Eye Institute, Professor Charles Bekibele, highlighted the institution’s vision of offering cutting-edge research and excellent services to the blind and visually impaired, leading to the establishment of the Professorial Chair in Glaucoma Care in honor of Professor Oyinda Odutola-Olurin.
Lastly, Chairman of the event and Chairman of Eko Hospital, Chief (Dr) Sonny Kuku, commended Eleta Eye Institute as a prime example of philanthropy and collaboration between the community and academia to provide advanced eye care services to Nigerians at a minimal cost.
