Nigerian Optometric
Association(NOA) Anambra chapter has offered free medical eye check and
services to Inmates at Nigerian Correctional Services(NCS), Custodian Center,
Awka to mark 2019 World Sight Day(WSD).
About 80 inmates and 20 staff benefited from the free eye
check, free glasses and free drugs offered by NOA during the WSD activities at
Awka Correction facility.
According to NOA Anambra chairman, Dr. Chigozie Umeh who is
also Medical Director Ropheka Eye Clinic Npkor said that they decided to reach
out to the underserved of the society.
He said that the 2019 WSD themed ‘Vision first! Leave no one
behind’ focused on sensitizing inmates and staff in correctional facilities on
taking care of their eyes to forestall avoidable blindness.
“WSD is an annual event slated for every 2nd Thursday of
October when eye professionals create awareness on avoidable blindness
emanating from avoidable causes teaching people how to care for their sight.
“We advocate that people visit optometrists who are primary
eye care practitioners trained to check, diagnose and treat eye problems. We
have orthoptics trained to train the eye muscles.
“We advise the warders to regularly bring out incarcerated
inmates outside to see the sun and exercise their eyes to avoid lack of dark
adaptation that causes myopia or blindness”, said Umeh.
Moreover, delivering a lecture, Dr Nwankwo Ogechukwu advised
people to know their family health history to know whether hypertension or
diabetes runs in the family saying that it affects eye health.
“Avoid self medication, putting urine, sugar, salt, saliva
or sharp objects in the eye. Use sunglasses to protect your eyes. From 40 years
you should see an Optometrist”, said Nwankwo.
WSD Committee chairman, Dr, Emejue Ifeanyi said that the
activities include: media chat, roadwork assisted by Federal Road Safety Corps,
free eye test and drugs to staff and inmates correctional facilities.
Meanwhile, Officer in charge, Custodian centre, Awka, Edwin
Akabueze and the PRO Francis Ekezie thanked NOA for remembering them urging
more groups to emulate such kind gesture.
Akabueze pleaded with government who has upgraded the prisons to correctional
facilities to employ optometrists for inmates at least one for each state.
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