Economic Benefits of Eye Care Interventions on Social Inclusion and Quality of Life

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Noor Dubai Foundation (NDF) cataract surgery intervention on social inclusion and quality of life in Katsina state. A survey method using 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to retrieve direct data from respondents. 300 respondents were recruited from the existing 5000 beneficiaries of the intervention. The result shows a significant enhancement in social inclusion and quality of life of respondents. These include less dependent on escorts, improvement in participation in social functions, freedom over choice of life, reduced discrimination arising from vision impairment, and general life sustainability. Precisely, 98% of the respondents agree that they depend less on escort; 98% of the respondents agree that their social function participation has improved; 99% of the respondents agree that their control over choice of life has significantly improved; 96% of the respondents agree that vision impaired discrimination has reduced and 96% of the respondents agree that life is more sustainable at present. The implication of these findings is that vision impairment reduces the chances for social inclusion and militates against the United Nations' efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals. Therefore, the state government should extend its collaboration with NDF for another few years in other to socially include more people with curable vision problems in the state.