A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Victor Obuzor, has said the legislature may replicate Vision and Optical Research Institutes across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
Obuzor who sponsored a bill for the establishment of a Federal Institute for Vision and Optical Research in Rivers State said this in an interaction with journalists.
The lawmaker said this was due to the support for the proposed law during and after the public hearing recently held at the National Assembly, Abuja.
According to him, the House is impressed with the bill and called for the replication of the institute in the six geopolitical zones to serve many citizens who have visual challenges.
Obuzor said with an estimated 50 million Nigerians currently affected by visual disabilities, and over seven million already blind, the need for decisive action becomes more pressing.
„As guardians of public health, we must address the escalating prevalence of vision impairment, particularly in underserved communities. The proposed institute represents a crucial step towards mitigating this growing public health challenge and ensuring a brighter future for our citizens.
„Vision disorders are reaching epidemic proportions in Nigeria, exacerbated by limited access to ophthalmic care, particularly in rural locales,“ he said, adding that projections by the World Health Organization were that the current figure may double by 2050 without the right interventions.
On the proposed bill to establish the Federal College of Optometry to provide for courses leading to award of designated Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates in Optometry and related courses, which he also sponsored, Obuzor said the desires of any government is to have a population of healthy citizens.
„This is why governments all over the world, including Nigeria continues to fund health related and infrastructure as well as basic health and eye care services to ensure that health sector objectives are actualised.
„The impact of optometric care is growing worldwide and countries have devoted huge resources towards the development of infrastructure and human capital to ensure that this vital organ of the human body is given its pride of place; because without the eyes, life and living would be difficult,“ he stated.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen had in his remarks at the public hearing assured that the bill, if considered and passed into law, „will address the current low-level scientific research and development in vision healthcare and ensure a phenomenal increase in the number of qualified professional manpower and the establishment of more specialised eye care facilities across the country.“
