One third of the physically challenged people in the country are visually impaired although 80 percent of such cases are preventable. speakers at a discussion said yesterday.

• The speakers also said that it is possible to conduct only one-third of die cataract surgeries in the

countr every year and so political coinmi ment and mass awareness aream tst to prevent blindness.

Shaptahik 2000 and Sight Savers Interna tional jointly organised the discussion on 'Vision for Children' at the National Press Club in the city to r|iark the World Sight Day.

Highlighting a survey result conducted by National Institute of Ophthalmology and Sight Savers

International, M Enamul Kabir, country representative of Sight Savers International, said around 8.50 lakh people in die country are visually impaired.

While presenting the keynote paper. Dr Mohammad Alamgir Hossain briefly portrayed the situation and cause of blindness especially child blindness in the country.

Terming cataract as the main reason of child blindness, he said amongst 40,000 of the visually impaired children, 49 percent are aged below three-years and suffer from cataract.

"Blindness has social and economical impact. Even if one percent of the total population of the country is found visually impaired, it is enough to lag the society behind." said Columnist Syed Abul Maksud.

"The government is not blind. So the government should think of it. It should take necessary steps to rehabilitate the people with blindness so that they can contribute to thcsociety," he added.

Prof Jamal Nezam Uddin, associate professor of National Institute of Ophthalmology, said visual impairment is not a matter of poverty.

"It is found that annual income of the family of 10 percent visually impaired children is above one lakh," he said.

Executive Director of Centre for Service and Information on Disability (CSID) Khandakar Zohurul Alam said the issue on disability was never considered as rights issue, rather it was believed asawclfare issue.

"For this reason, education and other issues of the people with disabilities are directed by the Ministry of Social Welfare, which deprives a huge number of children with disabilities from receiving education," he said adding that there are only 1200 seats for the physically and mentally challenged children, whereas 16 lakh of the physically and menially challenged children need to go to school immediately.

Acting editor of Shaptahik 2000 Golam Mortoza moderated the discussion while Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, former lawmaker GM Kader, economist Dr Atiur Rahman. Prof Dr Syed Maruf Ali, director of NIO, Dr AHM Enayet Hossain and litterateur Imdadul Haque Milon also spoke.