MOH Given Task On Eyes Series Of Children

Akwa Ibom Government has directed Ministry of Health to liaise with African Council of Optometry in examining the eyes of children in primary and secondary schools in the state.
Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio gave the directive recently when the President of African Council of Optometry, Dr. (Mrs.) Uduak Udom and other council members paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s lodge, Uyo.
Chief Akpabio emphasized the importance of eyes to the promotion of free, compulsory education and urged the health Commissioner to carry out effective eyes series of the children.
The Governor, however, thanked the council for nominating an Akwa Ibom indigene to head the council and described Dr. Udom as a hardworking person who would make the body proud.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Udom lauded the Governor on the infrastructural renaissance in the state especially Akwa Ibom International Airport, Flyovers and Tropicana Entertainment Centre, among others.
The Council’s President recalled that in 2006, she was nominated to head the body due to her pivotal role to the health care delivery services in the country and Africa at large.
She hinted that in 2008, Nigeria was chosen in pilot health care services and their organization visited Ethiopia and trained teachers in optometry business.
Dr. Udom said the council trained teachers in Bayelsa and Lagos States to undertake eye examination of patients to reduce blindness among the people.

The optometrist who observed that 80 percent of educational training is based on the eye appealed to Akwa Ibom Government to train teachers to examine school children’s eyes as a way of promoting the free education policy of the government.