§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent blindness from preventable diseases exists among citizens of our African Colonies; how many hospitals there are for treatment of eye diseases; and how many blind children are educated at school.
§ Mr. J. Griffiths:I regret that no accurate figures are available on the extent of blindness from preventable 164W disease among the peoples of the African colonial territories. Eye diseases are treated in the vast majority of hospitals it East, West and Central Africa. There are ophthalmic specialists in all the larger Colonies and special eye clinics in the larger centres. About 150 blind children are at school in the African territories, and of these nearly all attend special schools for the blind.