SEREMBAN, October 12, 2017 – The officiating ceremony of World Sight Day 2017 at the National Level was held at Paroi Youth and Sports Complex with the theme Universal Eye Health: Make Vision Count. World Sight Day is celebrated around the world every year on Thursday of the second week of October.

The ceremony was officiated by YB Dato’ Haji Azman Haji Abu Bakar, Director of Medical Development Divisionq, Ministry of Health Malaysia together with the Director  of Negeri Sembilan’s State Health Department, Dr. Zainuddin Mohd Ali.

The objective of the celebration is to instill awareness in society about important issues related to vision health, holding free preliminary eye checks for the public, working together to prevent risk of premature blindness among society, educating the public and introducing the services provided by the Ophthalmology Department to society.

“Negeri Sembilan is the only state in Malaysia that has a Mobile Ophthalmology Clinic or Mobile Clip officiated by YAB Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan on 18 November 2015. Eye specialists from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) will be visiting areas outside the cities to make preliminary checks on eyesight problems especially among the elderly,” said YBrs. Dr. Zainuddin Mohd Ali, Director of Health Department of Negeri Sembilan in his speech during the officiating ceremony of the 2017 World Sight Day at the national level.

He also shared that a total of 1,449 patients had benefited from the mobile clinic during the  21 roud tours held in every district of Negeri Sembilan, being Kuala Pilah, Jempol, Tampin, Jelebu, Seremban, Port Dickson, Rembau and Tampin.

Meanwhile, YB Dato’ Haji Azman Haji Abu Bakar said the Report from the World Health Organisation in 2010 estimated there to be around 250 milllion people around the world who face issues with their eyesights or are blind. In Malaysia alone there are 413,000 people who struggle with eyesight problems. Out of 113,000 people, 43,000 are identified to be caused by cataracts.

“The practice of doing periodical health checks should be made a habit among society, aside from empowering members of society with knowledge and skills about healthy living in order to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart problems,” he said.

The ceremony was followed by free eye examinations, health checks, a poster exhibition, and a video show on health.

Prepared by:
Amizul Aziz
Strategic Communication Centre (StraComm)
Level 1, Canselori Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan
Phone : 06-798 8026/8027/6284 Fax : 06-798 8204