The Kwara State government has vowed not to relent in effort and ensure that the health of the people is given priority through quality health services.
Kayode Alabi, the State deputy governor, stated this recently in Ilorin while declaring open the 33rd annual National Conference of Nigeria Ophthalmic Nurses Association.
Alabi explains that it is clearly evident that the state is on the path to greatness under the leadership of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in view of the various interventions and payment of counterpart funds in the health sector among others.
In a release by his chief press secretary, Bunmi Adedoyin, Alabi says: “You will all agree with me that the theme of the Conference is germane: “VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, Countdown to the Final Lap”. The eyes small as they are very important components of our bodies and cannot be separated from our daily life.
“The Holy Books also states that “The eye is the light of the body; if your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.” It is therefore not surprising that a discussion on these apparently small parts of our bodies is the reason behind this big gathering of dignitaries, intellectuals and stakeholders alike”.
Alabi calls on the participants to do an appraisal of vision 2020, seeing that it is barely a year to the supposed accomplishment of the lofty ideal.
Adding that,”The programme was launched in the year 1999 and now twenty years down the line, how have we fared as a nation in the accomplishment of this vision? For this cause, and to this end, we have all gathered; and for the rest of this week, we have lined up programmes aimed at finding viable answers to this question.”
The Deputy Governor revealed that the state has made giant strides in achieving its objective as evidenced by several programmes that have held over the years.
In his submission, Kayode Olubiyi, a medical doctor disclosed that over 1.3m Nigerians are blind, calling for increased awareness and proffer solutions to avoidable blindness.
According to Olubiyi, only few states including Kwara, Lagos, Sokoto, Katsina have organised Primary Health care services.
He calls on the professionals to be involved in serious research to reduce blindness.
The National Chairman of the Association, Stephen Lamiya noted that the citizens has a right to enjoy good sight and access care that would promote and provide good eye sight and eye health.
The Chairperson of the Association in Kwara State, Oluwatoyin Opawoye says the Right to Sight is the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness, a joint programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness (IAPB).
Opawoye appreciates the Kwara State government for encouraging training of Nurses as Ophthalmic personnel as it has further enhanced accessibility of the citizens to eye health services.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
