GLAUCOMA, A Leading Cause of Blindness

Posted by The Leader News Online on June 8, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Glaucoma is the 2nd leading cause of blindness in the world after cataract. World Glaucoma week is celebrated from 10th to 16th of March, every year and 12th of March is usually recognized as World Glaucoma day. From the free eye project we have carried out in various parts of Imo State; we discovered that the prevalence of glaucoma is very high in Imo State. Glaucoma has been called the silent “thief of sight” because the loss of vision often occurs gradually over a long period of time and symptoms only occur when the disease is quite advanced. And once vision is lost, it cannot be recovered, so treatment is aimed at preventing further loss….

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Nigerian Physicians and Our Right to Know

Posted by The Leader News Online on May 18, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Chioma called again! You remember her? The woman her boss was pressing for an affair (See https://theleaderassumpta.com/category/columns/ethics-corner/ or www.csaaeinc.org/blog for full story). I thought she was going to talk about this affair. No. This time it was about her sick mother. “Could you please pray for her, she is in a hospital at Owerri”, she said. I know her mother, a 65 year old “rural woman”. I called this woman. “Mama, what’s the matter?” “The Doctor has not told me anything”, she answered. “What medication has he given you?” “He did not tell me, he just said that I will be fine.” I have heard this several times, especially from poorer and less educated Nigerians. Regardless…

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Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Posted by The Leader News Online on May 6, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe. Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat. Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet) also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college. That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…

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