World Sight Day: Kogi citizens advised to imbibe culture of eye checks
Story from Rabi’atu, Lokoja
Kogi State Government says it will continue to give priority to the health need of its citizens.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna stated this at the sensitisation and free Eye Medical check organised by the Kogi state chapter of Nigerian Optometric Association in partnership with the Ministry of Health in Lokoja to mark World Sight Day.
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Dr Saka said the day is observed annually on the 14th of October to educate and sensitise the people of the state on the need for a regular eye check.
The Commissioner said nearly forty to sixty per cent of blindness in the world today was due to lack of sensitisation, saying issues affecting eyes would have been prevented if proper eyesight check-up was carried out.
He described the eye as the most important part of a human organ, adding that free surgeries have been carried out in the three Senatorial Districts of the state with the help of other development partners.
Dr Saka called on the people of the state to avail themselves the opportunity and assured that the partnership between the optometric and the ministry had come to stay in the state
He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for paying the Counterpart Fund that enabled the ministry to partner with health development partners in accessing other health facilities.
The National Vice President, Optometric Association, Dr Tempo Ogochukwu Nwosu says the day is celebrated every second Thursday of October to educate and sensitise the people on the need for a routine eye check.
According to him, it is the association’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to give back to society and described the partnership between the association and the ministry as a welcome development.
He said the present administration was the first to employ the services of an Optometrist.
Some participants at the screening, Mrs Omolola Karimi, Hajia Aisha Bello and Mr Sunday Haruna commended the initiative of the association and the ministry saying that it will go a long way.
The theme for this year is ‘Loving your sight’.
About two hundred citizens made themselves available for the screening.
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