DTSG ASSURES OPTOMETRISTS OF PARTNERSHIP IN EYE HEALTH CARE SERVICES

 

Treating an Eye Patient at a local clinic in Nigeria

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, has assured members of the Optometric profession of the state government readiness in assisting them in providing and rendering eye health care services for Deltans.

Prof. Utuama, who gave the assurance while playing host to Members of the Nigeria Optometric Association (NOA), on courtesy call to his office in Asaba, said the State Government is currently rendering eye care services particularly surgery operation to age persons, and free rural health care scheme through the mobile hospital for those who are not in the immediate vicinity of health care outfits.

While thanking the Association for a clear explanation in distinguishing among the Ophthalmologist, Optician and the Optometrist, he asserted that coming to Delta State for the 38th Annual conference is a vote of confidence by the association on the state government in driving the Three Point Agenda of this administration.

The state deputy governor assured that the Governor Uduaghan led administration will look into the appeal by the Association for provision of Internships course, call duty allowance as well as provision of land to build a secretariat for the Association.

 According to him; "As regard your internship programme, we do not have it currently running but anything that will help to make your profession to care for the eyes of Deltans is most desirable. We will look at it and see how we can introduce it in order to ensure the autonomy and warning is as distinct from the other sectors of the eye care givers."

Further, he said, "As for the provision of land, I think I can assure you that we will treat it with dispatch, the reason is simply that it fits into our Infrastructure capital development agenda. We want Asaba and indeed every community to be developed, and one of the ways to develop a city is to build relevant institutions to give them physical presences like the Secretariat of the Nigeria Optometric Association, Delta State chapter you are requesting for."

Prof. Utuama who assured that the state government will continue to work hard to ensure that the state is put on a great stead in the map of democracy and also of development in the country, noted that Delta is not only rich in oil but also in human resources.

He asserted that there is over 150 beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme, noting that the whole idea is to invest in human resources so that in the near future where Deltans can take full advantage when such occasion arise at the global, National, State or at the Community level. "We are breeding Deltans who will be able to stand with their shoulders high anywhere in the world" He said.

Earlier, in his address, the President of the Nigeria Optometric Association, Dr. Ikechukwu Nwakuche, who was represented by the Former President of the Association, Dr. (Mrs.) Udom Uduak, commended the state government for the giant strides in development, noting that Asaba is developing very fast into a mega city.

While asserting that the Association is in Asaba for its 38th Annual Conference, the President noted that the Profession of Optometric is one of the new professions introduced into the health sector and the awareness is not well known by members of the public.

The President highlighted that, optometry was recently created as an independent health care profession with their area of specialty in sight and vision care, saying that optometrists deal with comprehensive eye examination and prescription, vision aids, contact lenses as well as treatment for minor eye infections and diseases that do not pose a threat to the integrity of the visual system.

According to president; "When you have an Ophthalmologist who is an eye surgeon, and you have the Optician who does the technical things about making glasses and fitting them, in the middle you need the Optometrists who is the primary eye care provider".

While appealing for the provision for interns to work during their internship course in the state, call duty allowance for Optometrists as well as request for land to build a secretariat of Delta State Chapter of Nigeria Optometric Association, he called for the need of Optometrists in the public, noting that an optometrist in every local government and a couple of them in the secondary and tertiary centres will go a long way in providing eye care services to the teeming population.