According to data of World Health Organization/WHO as much as 1.5 percent of the population in Indonesia is experiencing blindness, and one of the causes of blindness are cataract disease (disorders of the eye lens). Currently each year in Indonesia there are 210 000 people suffering from cataracts.
"Right now people in Indonesia are aged much longer, so cataract will increase in many patients," said Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari when opening declaration of the Social Program MATAHATI - Eye Health Care in Mangga Dua Square Jakarta, Sunday (3/8).
According to Health Minister Siti Fadilah, even as much as 10 percent of school-age children 5-15 years old suffer from refraction and wore glasses. "Though not all children are able to buy glasses," said Minister of Health who see the positive social programs of this kind.
Figures blindness rate of 1.5 percent of Indonesian people is a social problem that can not be solved by government alone. "So I am grateful to all those who helped reduce the cataract patient. Blindness due to cataract surgery and can be overcome with plantings lenses, so they'll be able to look back," said Menkes.
The show is co Kompas Gramedia, Indonesia Lions Foundation, Association of Indonesian Ophthalmologist, Day of Guo Ji Ri Bao and Mangga Dua Square Jakarta, and is supported by the Jakarta Eye Center, Eye Hospital, Indonesia, Pondok Indah Hospital in Jakarta, RS Mata Aini.