Blindness Rate in Indonesia Highest in Asia
Monday, 22 January, 2007 | 16:03 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Tjahjono D. Gondhowiarjo, Head of the National Committee for Preventing Sight Disordesr and Blindness, has said that 1.5 percent or around 2.9 million Indonesians are suffering from blindness.

This is mostly caused by cataracts which can be actually corrected through an operation.

“In Asia, Indonesia is in the top position as regards blindness. Sixty percent of cases are caused by cataracts,” said Tjahjono after attending running competition “Race Against Blindness” in front of the Radio of the Republic of Indonesia Building yesterday (01/210 in Jakarta.

He went on to say that 27 percent of cataract sufferers are under 55 years old.

Other causes of blindness, according to Tjahjono, are ultraviolet rays produced by the sun and nutrition factors.

Efforts to reduce the blindness rate, he acknowledged, required sophisticated equipment as well as highly trained human resources to operate it.

However, as regards the costs involved, especially for poor people, “They may join the program of Askesin (Health Insurance for Poor People),” said Tjahjono.

Yesterday’s running competition, which was opened by Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, was attended by several well-known people.

These included former president Abdurrahman Wahid and Sinta Nuriyah, Deputy Governor of the Special Territory (DKI) of Jakarta Fauzi Bowo and senior lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution.

According to Siti Fadilah, the event was part of the government's program for handling eye diseases and blindness or “Vision 2020”.

In order to implement this vision, the government is cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO), which is running a campaign “The Right to Sight”.

Toto, a blind participant, acknowledged that he was glad to join in the competition because he was able to socialize with a wide range of people.

“We really need attention, not mercy,” he said.

The event succeeded in collecting funds of Rp140 million, which will be donated to the National Committee for Handling Sight Disorders and Blindness.

DWI RIYANTO AGUSTIAR