…As Vision: Optometrist advises intake of foods, fruits rich in carotene, vegetables***

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday said it had resumed voluntary repatriation programme for registered Afghan refugees from Pakistan on Friday after the winter break.

The voluntary repatriation operation had been suspended for the winter period from Dec. 1, 2018, until Feb. 28, 2019.

Pakistan continues to host 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees, who are holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, according to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Around 4.4 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan under the UNHCR-facilitated voluntary repatriation programme since 2002.

The PoR card allows Afghan refugees the right to temporary legal stay in Pakistan.

Pakistan has extended the stay of the refugees until June this year.

“While voluntary repatriation is a preferred solution for the majority of Afghan refugees, they need to be well-informed, and it should be voluntary, safe and dignified,” said UNHCR Representative in Pakistan, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela.

Menikdiwela said that the UNHCR acknowledges and appreciates the people and government of Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for four decades.

She said that the firm’s generosity had contributed to the global refugee cause at a time when pushback of refugees and asylum fatigue were witnessed globally.

As the year 2019 marks the 40 years of the Afghan displacement, Menikdiwela reiterated her call to the international community to help enhance Afghanistan’s absorption capacity.

And to provide targeted development assistance in high return areas in Afghanistan for sustainable reintegration of returnees.

She also called for support to Afghan refugees and their host communities.

She reaffirmed UNHCR’s commitment to work with the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan on long term solutions for 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
The UNHCR provides approximately 200 dollars to every registered individual upon their return to Afghanistan.

Returnees receive the cash grant at UNHCR encashment centres in Afghanistan.

On Thursday, Pakistan State Bank announced that registered Afghan refugees could now open bank accounts in Pakistan following the decision by Prime Minister, Imran Khan.

A bank notification said the refugees’ PoR card would be considered equal to Pakistani national identity card for biometric identification of the refugees. 

In the meantime, Dr Ozy Okonokhua, President, Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), has advised Nigerians to consume foods and fruit items rich in carotene and vegetables to ensure healthy vision.

Okonokhua, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, said such foods and fruits generally helped to improve the quality of the eye.

According to Wikipedia, carotenes are orange, yellow and red colour, found largely in fruits, vegetables and dark green leafy vegetables.

Some of the foods rich in carotene include carrot, sweet potatoes, broccoli, dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach, romaine, lettuce, squash, red and yellow peppers.

“To ensure healthy eye sight, we encourage intake of fruits and food items that are rich in carotene and vegetables. This is because carotene generally helps to improve the integrity of the eye,“Okonokhua advised.

Okonokhua, who frowned at the rate of consumption of fatty food by majority of the populace, however urged them to stay away from such fatty diet to avoid health implications.

According to him, consumption of fatty, if not checked could affect the health of the individual and also impact negatively on the visual system.

He further discouraged the populace from the consumption of fizzy or carbonated drinks as well as sugary diet, adding that if taken in excess, could lead to diabetes.

Okonokhua specifically identified diabetes as having a very high visual implication.

“We should avoid sugary diet so that we don’t develop diabetes which will affect the visual system negatively.

“We should also avoid too much salt intake because too much salt intake will eventually lead patients who are prone to high blood pressure to some retinopathy that will expose the vision to some eye diseases.“

Retinopathy is a disease of the retina, especially one that is non inflammatory and associated with damage to the blood vessels of the retina, according to health experts.

“Such diseases can invariably lead to visual impairment.

“Therefore, we should avoid excessive sugar and salt intake, we should also avoid fatty foods and then dwell more on fruits and vegetables that are reach in carotene.”