A non-governmental organisation, Health Advocacy and Citizen Engagement (HACE), has conducted free eye and blood pressure checks for police officers in Lagos State and members of the public through its “Smile With The Police Initiative.”

The initiative also provided free eyeglasses and medication to those in need.

“Smile With The Police” aims to promote positive police-citizen engagement and support the police force. Dr Kennedy Eguagie, founder of HACE and convener of the initiative, explained that the scheme promotes good eye care for police officers and discourages practices that could lead to visual impairment and blindness

“Vision and sight are crucial for police officers in carrying out their duties,” Eguagie said. “For an officer to accurately assess situations, spot crimes, and make critical decisions, their vision must be sharp and precise.”

He added: “We also use this opportunity to bring the police and the public closer together. We will be holding a celebrity football match between A-list celebrities and senior police officers at the University of Lagos. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Olanrewaju Ishola; Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade; Alibaba, Seyilaw, Omobaba, and others will be playing.”

An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who received a pair of glasses during the event, shared that he has had an eye problem for over two years and that the glasses would help him write statements clearly. Another police inspector, who preferred to remain anonymous, stressed the importance of such initiatives and the need for more frequent eye care clinics.