By Cletus Asuquo
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Cross River State Government, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service the Nigerian Optometric Association, and Holistque Public Health, has organised a free eye screening exercise for civil servants.
The exercise forms part of activities to commemorate World Optometry Day, held annually.
Held on Monday at the State Secretariat in Calabar, the screening targeted workers aged 45 years and above, with a focus on the early detection of vision defects and eye-related diseases such as glaucoma.
Speaking during the exercise, the Permanent Secretary, Odu-Orji Glory, said the initiative underscored the government’s commitment to the health and well-being of its workforce, noting that regular eye checks are essential for maintaining productivity and overall quality of life.
She said, “Healthy vision is critical to effective service delivery. This initiative is part of our efforts to ensure that civil servants remain fit and productive. We encourage all eligible workers to take advantage of this opportunity to know their visual status and seek appropriate care where necessary.”
Also speaking, the Information Officer in the Office of the Head of Service, Kera Okem, described the initiative as a critical step towards improving the health and productivity of civil servants in the state.
Okem noted that the screening provided an opportunity for workers to assess the condition of their eyesight and receive professional advice on necessary treatments, including the use of corrective lenses.
He said, “This platform was created for civil servants to check their eyes, know their visual status, and determine if they require glasses or further medical attention. It is important for individuals, especially those from 45 years and above, to take advantage of this initiative.”
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Nigerian Optometric Association, Dr Cecilia Oge, said the outreach was aimed at identifying undiagnosed eye conditions and ensuring prompt referrals for treatment.
She explained that the exercise was being conducted in phases due to limited manpower, with a parallel screening ongoing in Okuku community in Yala Local Government Area.
Oge disclosed that over 200 civil servants were expected to benefit from the exercise in Calabar alone, adding that only a fraction had been attended to at the early stage of the programme.
She said, “We are screening civil servants to help them identify eye defects early and make proper referrals. However, this should not end with screening alone. There is a need for more optometrists in the system.”
The optometrist called on the state government to employ more professionals and deploy at least one optometrist to each local government area to improve access to eye care services across the state.
One of the beneficiaries, Edet Orok, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful.
Orok said the screening helped him better understand his eye condition and urged the government to sustain the programme to enable more workers to benefit from early diagnosis and treatment.
