Blindness: Nigerian govt may establish Federal Institute for Vision, Optical Research across six geopolitical zones – Rep Obuzor

The House of Representatives member representing Ahoada West/Ogba Egbema/Ndoni, Victor Obuzor, has disclosed that the Nigerian government may subsequently replicate the establishment of the Federal Institute for Vision and Optical Research in Rivers State across the six geopolitical zones of the nation.

The Rivers lawmaker, who sponsored the bill for the establishment of the Institute, addressed journalists on Monday, saying the support the bill received during and after the public hearing recently held at the National Assembly was encouraging.

“The House is delighted with the bill and has asked that the Institute, since it's one of its kind, should be replicated in the six geopolitical zones,” he said.

He called the establishment of the proposed institute an urgent necessity.

“As guardians of public health, we must address the escalating prevalence of vision impairment, particularly in underserved communities,” he added.

With an estimated 50 million Nigerians currently affected by visual disabilities and over seven million already blind, the need for decisive action has never been more pressing.

“The proposed institute represents a crucial step towards mitigating this growing public health challenge and ensuring a brighter future for our citizens,” he stressed.

Earlier in his presentation at the public hearing, he explained that “vision disorders are reaching epidemic proportions in Nigeria, exacerbated by limited access to ophthalmic care, particularly in rural locales,” adding that projections by the World Health Organization suggest that the current figure may double by 2050 without the right interventions.

On the proposed bill to establish the Federal College of Optometry to provide courses leading to the award of designated degrees, diplomas, and certificates in Optometry and related courses, which he also sponsored, he said the desire of any government is to have a population of healthy citizens.

“This is why governments all over the world, including Nigeria, continue to fund health-related infrastructure as well as basic health and eye care services to ensure that health sector objectives are actualized.

“The impact of optometric care is growing worldwide, and countries have devoted huge resources toward the development of infrastructure and human capital to ensure that this vital organ of the human body is given its pride of place, because without the eyes, life and living would be difficult,” he stated.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, had during the hearing assured that the bills, if considered and passed into law, “will address the current low-level scientific research and development in vision healthcare and ensure a phenomenal increase in the number of qualified professional manpower and the establishment of more specialized eye care facilities across the country.”

Also in his remarks, Chairman of the Committee on Specialty Healthcare, Hon. Alex Egbona, while expressing support, said the bills generally seek to increase public access to healthcare for Nigerians in the area of eye care, vision, and optical health.