The Communique of the Nigerian Optometric Association Issued at the 40th Annual General Conference Held at Dr. Obi Wali Conference Centre, Post Harcourt, Rivers State. From 13th to 16 July 2016
The theme of the conference was SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: THE PLACE OF OPTOMETRY.
The Nigerian Optometric Association(NOA) rose from the conference with the following resolutions:
1. That visual impairment is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. Therefore, Eye care services have to be available, accessible and affordable even to the rural populace where about 70% of the people dwell; to ensure that every Nigerian has good and functional vision to guarantee maximum output at work, school and recreation. This will increase productivity, reduce poverty and hunger and attain good health and wellbeing which are some of the key goals of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Flowing from the above, government should employ Doctors of Optometry at all levels, including all the Local Governments to prevent avoidable blindness.
2. As an association, the NOA has resolved to develop an obligatory protocol by which the body will make services available to the underserved in the society, e.g. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Albinos, children with developmental disabilities and others.
3. To achieve continuous quality education, all optometrists should be trained and re-trained in specialty areas to give utmost services in line with international best practices.
The NOAshall continue to build and develop capacities through harmonized training and professional development which is all encompassing towards achieving the SDGs.
4. The Ministries of Health should ensure that all heads of public health institutions adhere to principles of fairness, justice and equity in the day-to-day management of their institutions.
The implementation of the directive for the creation of optometry units in public hospitals, internship training programmes, and the recently approved relativity in the call duty for optometrists across board, has become paramount so as to fully motivate optometrists to better their serve— to the public a n d contribute more effectively in attaining the SDGs.
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5. Furthermore, Optometry being an autonomous and regulated profession, should have its own department in all public service establishments so practitioners can have a most conducive environment to realize their fullest potential. 6. The NOA shall develop clinical guidelines for optometrists to examine infants aged 0 to 6months. This will help in early detection of potential visual function defects that may militate against the proper development of the child.
School Eye Care Services should also be put in place to ensure that visual impairment does not adversely affect accessibility of quality education by the Nigerian child.
7. The NOA resolved to increasingly partner with other health care professionals to achieve peace and unity in the Healthcare system in the best interest of the patients.
8. The NOA shall continue to collaborate and partner with the Government Agencies such as Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and others to ensure and provide standard eye care to Nigerians.
9. Furtherance to the prevention of avoidable blindness, government cooperation is solicited to eliminate quackery especially in the eye care sub-sector.
The NOA shall continue to collaborate with the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) to set and ensure strict adherence to professional ethics and standards (Rules and Regulations).
10. Considering that the prevailing security issues in some parts of the country can negatively affect the attainment of the SDGs, the NOA hereby call on government to quickly address these challenges. We equally make a passionate appeal to all actors in this context to embrace dialogue and peace, so as to create a conducive atmosphere for the attainment of the SDGs in Nigeria.
Signed:
Damian Echendu, OD, LL.B, M.Sc., FNOA.
President
Dr. Adesuwa Agbontaen
Secretary
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
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