Thursday, 12th October, 2023 was World Sight Day. A day set aside by the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness(IAPB) to focus the world’s attention on the importance of eye care.
In line with the programme of activities lined up by the Nigerian Optometric Association(NOA) for World Sight Day 2023; Optometrists across various parts of the country went to rural areas, workplaces including fields, factories and markets creating awareness on avoidable blindness and visual impairment.
Week-long activities were scheduled to create awareness on World Sight Day. Nigerian Optometric Association through its chapters across the states of Nigeria left no stone unturned in letting the government, and major stakeholders including Non-Governmental Organizations, religious leaders, and employers understand the impact of good eye and visual health in boosting productivity and driving the nation’s economy forward.
Activities for the event also included, ‘Walk for Sight’. Road rallies will be carried out across the states of Nigeria in addition to free Vision screenings, eye health education to the public and distribution of prescription spectacles after eye checks.
Nigerian Optometric Association is also part of the National Eye Health Committee where it is partnering with other eye care professionals to stem preventable blindness that presently occurs in three out of every four blind people in Nigeria.
Various chapters of the association were involved in advocacy visits, media engagement, clinic-based eye screenings and establishment of vision corridors amongst other activities.
Courtesy of the association’s World Sight Day, 2023, over 25,000 Nigerians received free spectacles while over 50,00 have received free eye checks with a lot more getting eye health education.
