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| Brunei Darussalam Page last updated at 20:52 +0800,Friday, 30 July 2010 |
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Based on Brunei population-based studies, at least thirteen thousand people in the country should have some form of glaucoma and at least six thousand people will be unaware of their ailment. Speaking at the launch of the World Glaucoma Day 2010 this morning, the Minister of Health disclosed that Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness after cataract and that sixty point five million people worldwide are estimated to be suffering from glaucoma this year. Out of that number, four point five million people would be blind due to glaucoma and will increase to eleven point two million by 2020.
According to Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi, fifty percent of the population are unaware that they have glaucoma while ten percent go blind in at least one eye by the time of diagnosis. In fact, Yang Berhormat added, fifty percent of the population are unaware that they have glaucoma while ten percent go blind in at least one eye by the time of diagnosis.
World Glaucoma Day is a joint initiative of World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patient Association which takes place annually on the 12th of March. The World Glaucoma Association has recommended to observe the " World Glaucoma Week" between 7th to 13th March and Brunei Darussalam join with the rest of the world by observing glaucoma week. The Ophthalmology Department, Ministry of Health organising a wide variety of activities to celebrate world glaucoma week, such as screening of officers and staffs of the Ministry of Health for glaucoma.
In conjunction with World Glaucoma Day today, the Ministry of Health received a contribution in the form of a new bus costing 84 thousand dollars from Goh Hock Kee Motors. The bus is to be used a Mobile Eye Clinic. It was handed over by the Managing Director of Goh Hock Kee Motors Sendirin Berhad,Yang Berhormat Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin, to the Minister of Health. The Mobile Clinic is equipped with sensitive equipment for eye care tests and health screening in the country's rural areas.
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