The member representing Onitsha North/Onitsha South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Idu has announced a constituency project aimed at promoting eye health among children in the area.
Hon Idu disclosed this on Saturday, at the sideline interview of the “Children’s Sight Marathon” event as part of the activities to commemorate the 2024 World Sight Day.
The event tagged: “Love Your Eyes Kids” was organised by the Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria(ODORBN) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and National Eye Health Programme (NEHP).
The lawmaker explained that the project will cater to both privileged and underprivileged children, underscoring the importance of addressing visual security concerns.
“The initiative will also ensure that constituents are aware of the eye health services available to them.
“Community outreach programs will educate the public on eye health and its significance, empowering them to make informed decisions.”
“Collaboration is key to the project’s success. The lawmaker will partner with optimists, dispensers, and stationers to drive the initiative forward.”
“Legislative support will also be sought. A potential bill to support eye health initiatives will be crafted inU collaboration with leaders, demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing this critical issue.”
He also emphasized the need for collective effort, stating that effective change can not be achieved alone.
“This initiative aligns with the Nigerian National Assembly’s response to constituents’ demands for development and federal presence.” He added.
Similarly, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Bennett Igweh, in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, while explaining the importance of the eye, noted that the primary security human has is the security of the eye.
While speaking further, he said the security of the eye is the primary of all securities, adding that gun is the secondary aspect of the security.
“It is the security of the eye because it’s what you see that matters. What you are able to see can be an ordinary eye. It can be through cameras, but you must see something before you must activate something, and before you can say something.
“That’s whatever you can do to preserve your eyesight, enabling you to see and ensuring your own security and that of others – your neighbourhood, brothers, sisters, and the nation as a whole. When you see something, you’ll be able to say something.”
Meanwhile, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of ODORBN, Dr. Obinna Edwin-Awiaka revealed that the Board came up with the initiative so that it can introduce healthy exercises to better eyesight.
“We coined this program run to end blindness. This activity is to bring people together to have marathon, minimarathon, and short races at the point of doing it. They are exercising and making sure the eyes are healthy.
“The focus is on children. That is why children are here. We want to encourage the children to exercise, come out in the sunlight, and have vitamin D.”
“You don’t have to be in the air-conditioned car, air-conditioned office and air conditioned in the classroom, no, come and exercise, get bit of vitamin D”
He also encouraged parents and caregivers not to take away the greens from the breakfast table,
“Give them vegetables, give them fruit, and let them also find ways to exercise their eyes by doing eye exercises. We have what we call the 2020 principle, 2020 rule.
“That means for every 20 minutes they are looking at the computer or their devices, they look away at 20 feet for 2o seconds, that way their eyes will be healthy,” he said.
