By Okemadu Cletus jr
Glaucoma, as said is responsible for over 90% of blindness in this sector of the world, Africa. It is common especially among the aged. Glaucoma is believed to be as old as man. Which points to the truth that it has existed from the fall of man to this age.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an abnormal condition peculiar to the eye. It is a medical condition which results from the subjection of the eyes to pressures. When the eye is exposed to internal pressures, due to infections, or external pressure, due to injury, the optical nerves may be damaged.
The optical nerve is a biological cord which transmits light signals as impulses via the sensory route, from the sensitive sensory cells of the Retina (Retina cells) to the CNS (Central Nervous System), where they are interpreted as images and adequate response triggered.
This damage to the optic nerve results to Glaucoma. Blindness in glaucoma is therefore, due to the inability of the brain and spine to receive any light signal from the retina to interprete as image. The retina at this point may have blind spots eclipsing. There are various type of glaucoma, but that is a topic for another day.
The sole aim of this piece, is to illuminate the dark mind of how a single philanthropic hand has raised a continent to her feet. Born in 2003, by "the man with a golden heart", Sir Emeka offor, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, grew in Oraifite, its birth place, to spread its wing in flight across Africa and beyond.
Offor's foundation, realising the truth in "a candle losing nothing in lighting another" had in a short time, after her birth confronted glaucoma while looking it in the eye. Following the influx of the disease in 2008, especially in Africa, SEOF partnered with the notable world philanthropic foundation, the Carter center in fight against glaucoma.
The Carter center was founded in 1982 by former US president, Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn Carter to advance human rights and alleviate suffering, a thought Sir. Offor 'louds'.
The SEOF's gross donation of over $250,000 in endowing a professorship of glaucoma in the ophthalmology department, University of Mainz, Germany, has assisted in research programs of early detection and treatment of glucoma as well as public sensitization on the malaise.
So far, the SEOF has dealt the disease a fatal blow following its tireless effort in building a glaucoma-free continent. Whoever said "the greatest exercise for the heart, is reaching down and lifting up somebody", said in so many words: "Sir Emeka Offor Foundation".
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