On Thursday, 3rd August 2023, the leadership of the Nigerian Optometric Association, led by Dr Anderson Chimeziri paid a courtesy and familiarization visit to the Chairman National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission ( NSIWC) the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The President, Dr Chimeziri in the company of Vice President North, Dr Temple Nwosu and the National Secretary, Dr Victor Kelechi Aliche were accompanied to the visit by the Executive Council Members of the Association of Optometrists in Public Health Care in Nigeria ( AOPHCN) led by their President, Dr Kingsley Emerge. In his address, the President of NOA Dr Anderson Chimeziri, thanked the Chairman of the Commission Barr. Ekpo Nta, Esq for the warm reception he accorded the team.
He further stated that they were in the Commission’s headquarters to inform the Commission of a change in the leadership of the Association and to explore further areas of collaboration. He further expressed gratitude to the Chairman for the conviviality which had existed between the Commission and NOA in the past. The NOA President seized the opportunity to introduce the new leadership of AOPHCN of which he was the immediate past President and prayed that the Commission extends its “hand of fellowship” to the new Executives.
In his submission, the AOPHCN President, Dr Kingsley Emere thanked the Chairman of the Commission for giving them an audience despite the short notice prior to the visit. He went down memory lane of the cordial relationship which had existed between the Commission and Optometry. In his response, the Chairman of NSIWC, Barr. Ekpo Nta welcomed the delegation and reiterated the relevance of the Optometry profession in the healthcare system.
He noted that the general Problem being experienced in the health sector was a creation of the Health sector itself. By so doing it becomes very easy to address any shortfalls in remuneration of health professionals. Highlights of the visit include the presentation of the Conference and other souvenir gifts by the NOA and AOPHCN leadership to the Chairman.
Dr Victor Kelechi Aliche
National Secretary