👁️
Today is #WorldSightDay. #DYK More than 2 billion people have near or distance vision impairment.
In at least 1 billion – or almost half – of these cases, vision impairment could have been prevented
There are simple ways to take care of your eyes.🧵
Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment are:
👁️ age-related macular degeneration
👁️ cataract
👁️ diabetic retinopathy
👁️ glaucoma
👁️ uncorrected refractive errors
Young children with early onset severe vision impairment can experience delayed motor, language, emotional, social and cognitive development, with lifelong consequences.
Get your 👁️ checked.
Vision impairment severely impacts the quality of life among adult populations.
Adults with vision impairment often have lower workforce participation rates and higher rates of depression and anxiety.
In the case of older adults, vision impairment can contribute to social isolation, difficulty walking, a higher risk of falls and fractures, and a greater likelihood of early entry into nursing or care homes bit.ly/2EovhLo
Take regular breaks when you are reading or using your mobile devices for a long time to prevent eye strain or dry eyes bit.ly/2EovhLo
Wear sunglasses and brimmed hat when outdoor to reduce UV exposure that can damage your eyes bit.ly/2EovhLo
Do not use eye medication that does not belong to you bit.ly/2EovhLo
Wear eye protection when you are working with tools and chemicals that could damage your eyes bit.ly/2EovhLo
Know your family history.
Someone in your family has eye disease? Report this when you have your eye exam bit.ly/2EovhLo
Rinse your eyes immediately following exposure to hazardous chemicals bit.ly/2EovhLo
Smoking increases your risk of developing serious 👁️ conditions, like age-related macular degeneration and cataracts that causes permanent vision loss if untreated #NoTobacco
Smokers could develop age-related macular degeneration up to 5.5 years earlier than non-smokers, making it difficult to the 👁️ and do everyday tasks like driving and reading #NoTobaccobit.ly/3yy7Lo3
People exposed to secondhand smoke are twice as likely to develop age-related macular degeneration #NoTobaccobit.ly/3yy7Lo3
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
@DrTedros "First to #Uganda, where WHO is continuing to support the government to respond to an outbreak of #Ebola disease in five districts. So far, there are 54 confirmed and 20 probable cases, with 39 deaths, and 14 people have recovered"-@DrTedros
@DrTedros "Over 660 contacts are currently under active follow-up. Our primary focus now is to support the Government of #Uganda to rapidly control & contain this #Ebola outbreak, to stop it spreading to neighbouring districts, & neighbouring countries"-@DrTedros
Close to 1️⃣ billion people have a #MentalHealth disorder. Despite the magnitude of mental ill health, relatively few people around the 🌍 have access to quality mental health services.
Let's make mental health & well-being for all a global priority!
The serious gaps in #MentalHealth care are a result of chronic under-investment. This #WorldMentalHealthDay we call on more investment for mental health care for all!
#PalliativeCare requires services to focus on compassion as a glue that binds humans together.
Quality palliative care services are founded on:
💜 awareness of suffering
💚 empathy towards this suffering
💙 concrete action to alleviate this suffering
Connection with loved ones in the final day of life can improve the #MentalHealth and well-being of patients and families, helping them cope in difficult moments.
The health situation in #Tigray, Ethiopia is grim. The ability to meet health needs is extremely limited. WHO has no health supplies available in the Mekelle warehouse. There has been no humanitarian road or air access for 6 weeks. Chronic shortages of fuel and cash continue.
Following the latest airstrike in #Tigray that killed over 60 people, WHO is very concerned over the lack of access to healthcare for the injured in Adi Daero. We distributed the few remaining trauma care and essential health supplies to Shire area, a town close to Adi Dearo.
The distributed supplies are insufficient, and due to the prevailing security situation, movement restrictions are in place. Without supplies, health facilities could do little to help the few injured people who were able to reach them. Some died. This creates a double tragedy.
The WHO #monkeypox Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan is out.
It covers response priorities until June 2023 to stop monkeypox transmission 👉bit.ly/3RzW7j3
3 overarching goals to stop the #monkeypox outbreak:
1⃣Interrupt human-to-human transmission of monkeypox focusing on population groups at high risk of exposure
2⃣Protect vulnerable groups at risk of severe monkeypox disease
3⃣Minimize zoonotic transmission of monkeypox virus.
Countries are advised to consider 5 core components to calibrate their national health strategies & strengthen operational readiness
📍C1 Emergency coordination
📍C2 Collaborative surveillance
📍C3 Community protection
📍C4 Safe & scalable care
📍C5 Countermeasures & research