Health
Abia ranked first in number of eyecare vision centres in Nigeria
The President of the Nigeria Optometrists Association (NOA), Dr. Chimezirim Anderson, has disclosed that Abia State currently boasts the highest number of eyecare vision centres in the country. He called on Governor Alex Otti to support the association’s push for full legislative backing for a bill to decentralize the National Vision Centre, which is presently before the National Assembly.
Dr. Anderson made this known when he led a delegation of the NOA to the Government House, Umuahia, during their 48th annual conference held in the state.
The NOA president noted that the conference was significant as it also marked his re-election for a second term. He commended Governor Otti for appointing members of the association to key positions of authority, including the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, and the Administrator of the Eyecare Management Bureau, Dr. Betty Emeka-Obasi. He further praised the transformational initiatives of the Otti administration, saying, “In Governor Alex Otti, Abians got what they ordered.”
Dr. Alex Otti, Dr. Chimezirim Anderson, Dr. Betty Emeka-Obasi, other participants in group photograph
Dr. Anderson informed the governor that Abia had the highest number of vision centres in the country and appealed for a parcel of land to build the association’s regional office in the state.
Responding, Governor Otti described the conference theme, “Optometry in a Changing World,” as apt and reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of Abians through aggressive investments in healthcare and other social programmes.
“The major point is that everything that government does should be about the welfare of the people. Anytime a government is in place and people are complaining, that government had better look at its vision again. Because the essence of government and governance is the welfare of the people,” Otti said.
“Some people talk about security, but I actually want to subsume security under welfare. If you are not secure, then there’s no welfare. And if you are not healthy, there’s no welfare. So, everything is about welfare,” he added.
Governor Otti also highlighted his administration’s strides in healthcare, particularly the establishment of the Abia State Eyecare Management Bureau, which, according to him, makes Abia possibly the only state in Nigeria with such an institution. He revealed that the bureau had conducted free screenings, treatments, and surgeries for thousands of residents across the 17 local government areas.
On the NOA’s request for legislative support for the decentralization of the National Vision Centre, Governor Otti pledged to follow up on the bill at the National Assembly.
In her vote of thanks, Dr. Emeka-Obasi expressed appreciation to the NOA for choosing Abia as the host of its national conference. She also thanked Governor Otti for creating a secure and conducive environment that attracted over 1,000 optometrists to Umuahia, adding that the influx of delegates had boosted the local economy, with hotels in the city fully booked.
