World Sight Day: Anambra Optometrists extend free Eye Screening
… Loud Obiano for equipping health facilities
By Uzo Ebele
As the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) marks World Sight Day(WSD) yesterday October 14, 2021, NOA Anambra State chapter has extended the free eye check services by one week.
The association also commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State for providing State of the art eye healthcare equipments in Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Enugwuukwu General hospital facilities.
Speaking to our reporter at Ropheka J. Eye clinic, Nkpor, Idemili South LGA, the NOA Anambra State chapter Chairman, Dr. Chigozie Umeh said that the WSD 2021 themed “Love your Eye, Save your sight” a cliche for personal responsibility towards preservation of the sight was facility based because they wanted all the people who would access free eye screening to keep to the Covid 19 protocols.
“The free eye examination kicked off Nationwide on September 6, 2021 to end today October 14,2021 but because of the several Sit-at-home which restricted movements in Anambra State we commenced the free eye check much later. So we obtained permission from our national body to extend the free eye screening exercise till October 21, 2021 which is a week today”.
“The WSD 2021 was based on carrying out advocacy which include meeting with Community leaders, market and church Leaders to sensitize the people on the need to love their eyes and save their sight. If people love their eyes they should take proper care of their eyes. Negligence of taking proper care of the eye with the advice of a professional eye health provider causes avoidable blindness”.
“Also, we want to generate data on unmet needs of the eye in the country”, said Dr. Umeh.
Moreover, Dr. Umeh commended Governor Obiano for equipping the three public health care facilities saying that graduates of optometry could practice their internship in those equipped general hospitals.
He further requested that both Federal and State governments should subsidize eye health care delivery by reducing importation taxes of eyecare equipments adding that if eye health providers purchase equipments at a lower rate hospital bills and access to eye health care would be cheaper.
” Everyone should love his or her eyes and save his or her sight. Use this opportunity to visit any private or government eye clinic for free eye screening.See an optometrist for your eye check regularly even if you do not feel any pains because glaucoma may thief your sight without any symptoms. Avoid self medication and eat fruits and vegetables often for vitamins which are good for the eyes”, Dr. Umeh quipped.
Pics: Dr Chigozie Umeh (right) with a colleague during the WSD 2021 celebration.
