Sabah has highest rate of blindness in Malaysia, says council president

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has the highest rate of blindness in Malaysia at 56% or even higher, says National Council for the Blind Malaysia president Datuk Rosalind Chew.

She urged the government to identify causes of blindness specific to Sabah, adding that it was significantly above the national average that some people face severe visual impairments, while others are completely blind.

“An estimated 50% to 55% of Malaysians experience some form of vision impairment, making eye health an urgent priority

“In my experience, congenital blindness is rare, but cases do exist,” said Chew, who also heads the Sabah Society for the Blind,” she said.

Speaking at the World Sight Day 2024 event on Friday (Oct 25), Chew highlighted that many cases occur in rural communities, where access to eye care is limited.

World Sight Day, observed globally on the second Thursday of October, aims to improve awareness of eye health and promote access to quality eye care services.

During the event, she commended the Sabah government’s recent move to provide eyeglasses to 4,000 students from the B40 low-income group through the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS), describing it as a positive step.

“This initiative is commendable, but awareness and education are equally vital. Parents must understand how to support eye health in children, including ways to prevent vision loss,” she said, underscoring the need for broader community awareness and practical guidance on eye care.