Posted on: Thu 01-07-2021

THE COMMUNIQUE OF THE NIGERIAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION (NOA) ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 44TH ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE, EXPO AND AGM OF THE ASSOCIATION HELD AT BALMORAL CONVENTION CENTRE, FEDERAL PALACE HOTEL, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS, FROM 23RD TO 26TH OF JUNE, 2021

Theme: Quality Eye Care: Economic and Security Impact of Covid-19

PREAMBLE: 

The Nigerian Optometric Association is the umbrella body of all licensed optometrists in Nigeria numbering over 5000, and united in pursuing the broad objectives of enhancing the visual and eye health of Nigeria. 

HIGHLIGHTS 

About 1000 participants comprising professionals, exhibitors and guests were in attendance, under strict Covid-19 protocols including batching of attendees to ensure compliance with approved guidelines. A pre-conference workshop as well as free community-based eye care outreach to the underserved in Lagos preceded the main event. The main event, declared open by the Governor of Lagos state, His Excellency, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu(ably represented) was graced by dignitaries including representatives of the Lagos State' Commissioner for Health, Directors-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Department of State Service, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State' Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency(HEFAMAA), the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees of the NOA, the President of the Nigerian Post-Graduate College of Optometrists, among others. In his keynote address, the Guest Speaker, Mr Segun Adeniyi, former Presidential Adviser, did justice to the conference theme, pointing out that the emergence of Covid-19 and its devastating consequences necessitate the need for all stakeholders to retool and restrategise in order to meet up with the worsening shortfalls across all levels in eye care delivery. Discussants at the plenary session which included the Board of Trustees Chairman Dr Nwakuso Aruotu, and representatives of the SON and DSS discussed the Prospects and Challenges of delivering quality eye care services in Nigeria, providing diverse and valuable insights on the way forward in the light of the pandemic. A research study presented at the event highlighted optometrists as frontliners in the fight against the pandemic, urging stakeholders to urgently equip them better in order to continue providing their much needed services in the midst of the pandemic. Elections were also held and new leaders emerged to lead the Association over the next two (2) years.

RESOLUTIONS

The nation in general and the health care sector in particular experienced and still experiencing  significant economic and security challenges in the face of the pandemic, and in the light of this, the Associations, at the end of the conference, emerged with following resolutions:

1. The effects of the pandemic occasioned on the global economy and security of the world was worse in growing economies like ours. The Covid -19 pandemic further highlighted the centrality of an effective and efficient health system to the economy of any nation. It is noteworthy that countries with more developed health systems were overwhelmed in the face of the pandemic, hence the need to urgently and significantly improve the health infrastructure to meet the local needs including emergencies.
2. There is the dire need for capacity building across all categories of health care workers including optometrists in the nation as well as provision of incentives to encourage them, to forstall the current trend where health care workers are leaving the country in droves to other countries who have made available attractive benefits for them. 
3. That the role of Optometrists as frontline health workers be recognized as more than 50% of Optometrists reported seeing patients on an emergency basis during the Covid-19 lockdown. Optometrists are primary eye care providers who come into first contact with patients who have eye  care needs, and may therefore be exposed to life-threatening risks as seen in the current pandemic. 
4. There is the need for greater collaboration and cooperation between optometrists and government agencies involved in regulating health care/eye care services and products, to reduce the bottlenecks which negatively impact on the provision of quality eye care to the population.
5. The NOA notes the inadequacy of professional eye care services at the rural levels where majority of the populace lives, and call on government at all levels to make available more opportunities for Optometrists to deliver eye care services to these underserved population by providing basic infrastructure for Optometrists to function at primary health care centers. No individual needs to travel more than 20 kilometers to get eye care services in Nigeria. In a related resolution, the NOA support the upscaling of standardized community eye health programmes to help curb the activities of impostors masquerading as eye care providers, as well as improving access to quality eye services to rural dwellers. 
6. The association notes with dismay the worsening security challenges in the country, and herein join the clarion call on government to urgently redress this ugly situation, in particular the activities of bandits and kidnappers. Lives and property of Nigerians need to be secured, and health care workers encouraged to go to areas of greatest need at minimum risk. 
7. The Association also noted the alarming involvement of youths in nefarious activities such as drug abuse, internet fraud, youth restiveness, etc. We therefore call on government, Non-governmental organizations and all stakeholders on the need to create jobs for the youths, improve on effective public enlightenment campaigns and other strategies to avert the impending dangers inherent in these activities if not urgently addressed. 
8. There is also the need to review our import policies by granting concessions on health care resources especially Ophthalmic/Optical equipment and accessories, with the aim of lower cost of eye care services, reducing medical  tourism, thereby improving access to quality eye care and strengthening the economy. 
9. There is the need to urgently improve access of the populace to health insurance schemes, in order to help improve access to quality health care. 
10. We remain a law-abiding Association made up of law-abiding citizens of the country, and shall continue to support government in all her efforts in making Nigeria better, as we continue to promote and enhance the visual health of Nigerians. 

The Nigerian Optometric Association resolves to support the effects of Government to keep Nigeria an indivisible and united Country. 

Long live the NOA,

Long live the Nigerian Health System,

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria 

Signed:

Dr. Nwakuso Aruotu

BOT Chairman 

Dr. Clarie Esenwah

BOT Secretary 

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