BSS, Dhaka :
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday called for creating awareness among the people about avoidable blindness.
They made the call in separate messages on the eve of ‘World Sight Day 2014’.
The President and Prime Minister wished success of all programmes to be observed in the country marking the day.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said many people in the country are suffering from ailments and becoming blind for lack of awareness about taking care of the eyes.
Bangladesh is pledge-bound to eliminate blindness and one of the signatories to Vision 2020, he added.
The President appreciated the arrangements of cataract operation in almost all district hospitals in the country free of cost.
He urged the ophthalmologists to serve the poor people suffering from eye ailments.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message said, there are about 7.5 lakh visually challenged people in the country.
Blindness is not only a physical or social problem, it is a bar to national development, she added.
The Prime Minister lauded the theme of this year’s World Sight Day ‘ No More Avoidable Blindness’.
She highlighted her government’s steps to serve the eye patients and said the government is firmly committed to reach the services to the doorsteps of the poor and marginal people.
In this regard, she urged all concerned to come forward with the mentality of rendering services.
