World Sight Day: Bills Underway To Improve Eyecare Services In Nigeria, Says Kalu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has disclosed that certain Bills were underway to help address the challenges in accessing eyecare services and generally improve the health system in the country.

Kalu made the disclosure in commemoration of this year’s World Sight Day. The global event is observed annually on the second Thursday of October to draw attention to blindness and vision impairment.

Kalu, who is an advocate of eye health, recently organised an outreach programme where thousands of Bende indigenes received free eye examinations, treatment, surgery and glasses prescription.

The Deputy Speaker in a statement by his Special Assistant on Press Affairs, Udora Orizu, on Thursday, noted that this year’s theme, “Children, Love Your Eyes”, resonates with the agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, tagged “Healthcare for All”, to address the multifaceted issues plaguing the nation’s healthcare system.

Kalu, however, expressed worry over reports that about 24 million people were living with vision loss and 1.3 million others blind.

He said aside laudable initiatives of the Federal Government, the National Assembly on its part was committed to using legislative instruments to support in providing lasting solution to the challenges, hence his sponsorship of the amendment Bill of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Council Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill and National Eye Centre Act (Amendment) Bill alongside other lawmakers.

The Deputy Speaker further explained that the two bills, which have passed first reading, will allow more efficiency and expand access to eyecare delivery in Nigeria.

He, however, added that legislative efforts alone cannot solve this crisis, calling for collaborative effort and commitment by various stakeholders.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I am an advocate of eye health. For years i have been championing eye wellness for all through my outreach programmes and as well using legislative instruments. This year’s ‘World Sight Day’ theme, “Children, Love Your Eyes”, resonates with the agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas PhD, tagged “Healthcare for All” to address the multifaceted issues plaguing our healthcare system.

“Aside the laudable initiatives of the Federal government, the parliament on its part is committed to using legislative instruments to support in providing lasting solution to the challenges, hence why I, alongside other lawmakers sponsored the amendment bill of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Council Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill and National Eye Centre Act (Amendment) Bill. The Bills when passed into law will allow more efficiency and expand access to eyecare in Nigeria.

“I call on stakeholders as well to pool resources together in order to win the war against rising challenges of global blindness. Through the Benjamin Kalu Foundation I kicked off the End Blindness Project, an outreach targeting thousands of Bende indigenes for eye examinations, treatment, surgery and glasses prescription. The project is not just for Bende Federal Constituency but for the entire nation as well, the outreach will be extended to other parts of the country,” Kalu was quoted as saying in the statement.