Nigerian registrar charges optometrists on rural medical outreaches
Female optometrists should extend more medical outreaches to rural areas for more access to eye care.
Prof. Ebele Uzodike, Registrar, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN), made this known at the maiden Women Optometrists in Nigeria (WON) Conference which held in Lagos on Saturday.
At the conference themed ‘The Empowered Woman”, she said “Free medical eye screening should be done in rural areas because a lot of people there are underprivileged and do not have access to eye care.
”The urban areas like Lagos have lots of eye clinics where people can walk in to examine or get treatment for their eyes compare to people in the rural areas.
”Instead of having these free medical outreaches in the cities, they should be held in the rural areas to target the vulnerable and poor who need these care urgently.”
Appreciating the body for organizing the conference which had brought women folks in the profession together to forge ahead, the registrar noted that 70 per cent of optometrists in the country were women, adding that their contribution to optometry has transformed the profession.
Speaking also, Dr Obinna Awiaka, the National President of Nigeria Optometric Association (NOA) commended members of WON for all their giant strides and impact in optometry.
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Awiaka noted that the association which is an affiliate of NOA has helped in no small measure in reducing blindness in the country.
Awiaka said: ”Today in Nigeria, the numbers and positions occupied by women optometrists are not only increasing but they have outnumbered their male counterparts.
”I appreciate all the wonderful and meaningful work you do, especially balancing the demands of a job and your various homes.
”The theme of this conference says it all; when empowered work together, they can bring peace and prosperity to the world.”
Also, Dr Eniola Ajayi, the Ambassador of Nigeria to Netherlands, said that female optometrists were professionals of immense pedigree owing to the care they provided.
”Women optometrists combine good medical training with clear optical understanding in the care of vision which remains one of the most priceless organs of the body.
”The training and attention to details we learnt makes it possible for us to work as entrepreneurs or administrators.
”It is my hope that we will continue to be empowered and have fun with the job of ensuring good sight for all,” Ajayi said.
Dr Ogechi Nwokedi, the President of WON, who earlier spoke said the conference was initiated to avail women optometrists the opportunity to network, learn, share ideas and support one another. “This conference has been long conceived and been birthed today for us to come together as one.
”The objective of this conference is geared at vision and sight conversation and also ensuring that people in remote areas are served.
”Also, as a way of supporting each other, several initiatives to educate, train and build capacity are being provided for members.”
She said that since its inception, the association had reached thousands of underprivileged Nigerians providing free eye care. The President added that the body was looking forward to healthy national and global collaborations to enhance its objective, thereby transcending the shore Nigeria.
The occasion saw the likes of , Dr Yetunde Adeshina, the Managing Director, Prima Garnet Africa, who spoke on the topic: ”The Empowered Woman: The Woman, The Brand” along with the wife of the Lagos State Governor and the wife of the state’s Deputy Governor both represented at the the conference.
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