Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has expressed concern over the plight of over 24 million people living with vision loss in the country.
 
Speaking as part of events to commemorate this year’s World Sight Day yesterday in Abuja, he pledged to sponsor bills to address the challenges in accessing eye care services and improve the health system in Nigeria.
 
He noted that this year’s theme, “Children, Love Your Eyes,” resonated with the agenda of the 10th House, tagged “Healthcare for All,” to address the multifaceted issues plaguing the nation’s healthcare system.
 
Kalu said aside laudable initiatives of the Federal Government, the parliament was committed to using legislative instruments to offer lasting solution to the challenges, hence his sponsorship of amendment of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Council Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill and National Eye Centre Act (Amendment) Bill, alongside other lawmakers.  
 
He explained that the two bills, which have passed first reading, would promote efficiency and expand access to eye care delivery nationwide. Acknowledging that legislative efforts alone would not resolve the crisis, Kalu sought collaboration and commitment from diverse stakeholders.

BESIDES, at the World Sight Day (WSD) commemorations, yesterday, stakeholders urged Nigerians to take proper care of their sight to avoid blindness. The Lions International Club, District 404A3, while celebrating the global event, said carrying out early check on the eyes could prevent early blindness, and lead to  healthy sight.
 
According to the District Governor, Dr Folasade Shotomide, early checks could aid early detection, and help the child to perform optimally, noting that poor sight could lead to failure.
 
She said if a child fails due to lack of sight, does not mean he/she is not intelligent.  Her words: “Your sight is as important as every other part of our body. The moment one’s sight is lost, it gives challenges to life. It impairs everything that you want to do. Even if somebody is crippled, he can still go miles. You can go distances; you can achieve a lot more than when the eyes are no longer.
 
“So, if God has given us the gift of eyes, it is our responsibility to take care of our eyes, and make sure we do regular checkups.” The first vice district governor, Mrs Mary Onu, stressed that sight is everything, observing: “Everyone needs to have their eyes to do everything, that’s not to say that when there’s no sight, there’s no life, because we also do have people who have no sight, but have great lives.
 
“Early detection is key, once eye issues are discovered on time, it’s easy to put interventions in, and the children are able to get sight corrected surgery where necessary, and medication. Sometimes it’s just medication where necessary. However, when the conditions are left to linger, it leads to blindness.” 
 
A consultant ophthalmologist and chairperson of the District 404A3 Vision Committee, Dr Abiola Oyeleye, urged:  “We have to educate the children and the parents that they shouldn’t be on the screen for a long time.
 
“In the world now, a lot of people are short-sighted people, people who are very used to doing things at close distance and the factors responsible for that is that children and adults always look at telephones or screens close to them all the time.
 
“Another fact is that they are not exposed to sunlight as much as they should. Because it’s been proven without doubt that being exposed to sunlight helps in the development of the eyes.”
 
He disclosed that the club plans to conduct vision corridors, explaining that the term refers to situations whereby within the school, the vision of a child can be checked without the presence of a professional.