2024 World Sight Day: Abia offers free eye tests, takes advocacy to schools

The Abia State government on Thursday, organised a number of activities to mark this year’s World Sight Day with the theme, “Love Your Eyes, Kids”.

The events, which featured  early morning  Road walk, lectures, free eye tests, dance, and music by school  children, was attended by stakeholders in the health sector, children drawn from different schools in Umuahia, traditional rulers, government functionaries, teachers  and other dignitaries.

Mrs. Priscilla Otti, Dr. Betty Emeka-Obasi, others during the walk to raise awareness

In her address on the occasion, wife of the state governor, Lady Priscilla Otti, explained that the essence of the activities for the day was to teach people the importance of caring for their eyes.

She said the activities to mark the day are focused on schoolchildren, while urging parents and caregivers to  give priority attention to the protection of the eyes of their children and wards, from the early stage of their developments.

Distribution of medicated glasses by First Lady, Mr. Otti; Dr. Betty and other officials

The First Lady commended her husband, Dr. Alex Otti, for the innovations he has made  in the health sector since the coming to office, just as he charged Abia citizens and residents to avail themselves of the facilities and services that abound in the various local government areas and wards in the state.

“Many eye defects in people today are faults  that ought to have been  detected and corrected at early childhood and the people would have been enjoying normal vision,” she said.

First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti delivering her remarks

“But due to neglect, such treatable illness could lead to blindness.  Protect your eyes for posterity to come. Take full opportunities of the  Eye clinics established at Amachara  General Hospital to improve the health of your eyes. Early detection is key  for  good eye-services.

“Children who experience pains in their eyes should report to their teachers in their schools and parents  for early treatment.”

Lady Otti later unveiled the Vision Screening facilities for children, on behalf of Governor Otti, and declared the free eye tests open.

Earlier in her address, the Administrator of the state Eye Health  Management  Bureau, Dr. (Mrs) Betty Emeka Obasi said that the events of the Day marked another milestone  in the collective efforts of the present administration in Abia to create a world  that is largely free from eye challenges as it allows the people to reflect  on the vital  role of vision  and the urgent need  to address eye health challenges in communities,

She spoke on the need to make child eye  healthcare an urgent priority, “as they  represent our future.”

According to Dr. Obasi, who is also  the Senior Special Adviser to the state governor on Projects, the important of the eye  compelled the state government  to  mark  this year’s  Eye Day  with special outreaches in 18 public schools; 6 in each senatorial zone.

“We held free eye assessment examinations for 200 teachers and issued prescription glasses free, courtesy of the state governor,” she said.

“We also trained 120 teachers selected in  a pilot scheme from both public and private schools to recognize the basic symptoms of eye defects, enabling them to refer children for proper medical attention.”

Dr. Obasi hinted that in the next few years, the  target of the Eye Bureau would be  to ensure that Abians  have access to “equitable, affordable and standardized quality eye care, focusing on underserved and vulnerable populations  across the state, irrespective of your locations.”

She said that the ultimate goal  of the Abia Eye Health Management Bureau is to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment by 70 percent and ensuring that every  resident benefits from optimal eye health.

Meanwhile, the newly upgraded and retrofitted Eye Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia  has  attended to over 10,000 patients.

Two more Eye clinics have been onloaded at Amachara General Hospital and Ugwunagbo Sustainable Development  Hospital.

Work has also commenced at the  Eye clinics located  at Aba and Okeikpe General  Hospitals, respectively.

Dr. Obasi examining the eye of one of beneficiaries

It is hoped that  by the end of this year, 2024, five  more functional Eye clinics would be ready, bringing  the total to eight functional  Eye clinics across the  General Hospitals  in Abia state.

Not only that, the outreach  programmes of the State Eye Health Management  Bureau has provided screenings and treatments   to select drivers  in the state civil service as well as in some communities in Abia state, with assistance from  health institutions, groups and individuals..l

Dr. Obasi used the occasion to urge everyone to join in the advocacy for improved eye health services in various communities, especially, for children and young people as well as support initiatives  aimed at enhancing access to eye care.

She thanked the state government for her efforts in healthcare delivery services, and the wife of the governor for her  personal support and encouragements.

In his own lecture, a surgeon from the Abia state teaching Hospital (ABSTH), Aba, Dr. Charles Uchendu, spoke on the difference between the eye and other parts of the human body.

“You can remedy other parts of the body, but when  the eye is damaged, it is gone for ever. If you have eye problems, report  for medications and treatment, especially, at early stage”, he advised.