PREAMBLE

 

The Nigerian Optometric Associationg (NDA) held her 39th Annual General Meeting/Scienctific Conference with the theme, Advancing Optometry in Nigeria: Research and Ethicsm at the international Conference Centre, Abuja, from Wednesday, 1st to Saturday, 4th July, 2015.

 

The Association congratulates and welcomes wholeheartedly president Mohammadu Buhari as the president and Commander-in-chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces. Sir, the tasks before you are enormous but with God and the cooperation of us all, you will surely conquer.

 

RESOLUTIONS

After intense and exhaustive deliberations, it was note that whereas:

 

1.  The optometric profession has continued to grow and breaking new frontiers through research and development in order to meet global visual needs in general and Nigeria in particular.

 

2.  There seem to be a grand design and design and deliberate efforts to emasculate, frustrate and deny optometrists, nay other healthcare professional other than those now assuming ownership of the healthcare profession, the opportunity to express themselves in their chosen profession.

 

3.  That the Nigerian healthcare system is now on trial and/or in chaos due to the unwillingness and/or in ability of government to create a level playing field for all healthcare professions in the healthcare sustem in Nigeria. This is visible in the funding of trainings and appointments in the health sector.

 

4.  In the developed world and in most developing countries, public healthcare institutions, be it, tertiary, secondary and/or primary, are manageed by (Hospital) Administrators rather than (Chief) Medical Directors, as was the case in Nigeria before 1985.

 

 

Consequently, it was resolved and it is hereby resolved as follows:

1.  That the populace be informed that optometry has the following areas of specialization-viz (a) Ocular Health (B) Low vision and Rehabilitative Optometry (c) Public Health Optometry (d) Cornea and Contact Lens Practice. (e) Paediatric Optometry (f) Primary Care Optometry, and (g) Orthoptics.

 

2.  That government should encourage and provide adequate support for optometric training and researche so as to effectively tackle the blindness scourge in the country, the causes of which are mostly preventable.

 

3.  That government should resist in its entirety the present blackmail, lies, misrepresentation of facts and the bullying posture of one of the healthcare professions, whose sole aim is to intimidate and or deny other healthcare professions theur fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian consititution, to practice their profession to their fullest potential.

 

4.  That a Department of Optometry be created as a matter of urgency, in all public healthcare institutions for the benefit of the Nigerian residents, who are presently denied full optometric services

 

5.  That the post/position if (Chief) Medical Director in all public Healthcare Institutions be scrapped and replaced with that of (Hospital) Administrator. This is a managerial position which should be occupied by a professional Manager/Administrator. That reverting to the practice which existed before 1985, will remove bias, rancourm wickedness, hate and disharmony now ravaging the Nigerian Healthcare system.

 

6.  That we once again congratulate our president and commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Mohammadu Buhari, On his overwhelming victory at the polls, 

 

We hold you in high esteem and Nigerians expect much and look forward to the positive change you promised.

 

We support you and shall continue to pray for your success in the fight against corruption, poverty, Insecurity impunity, etc, May the Almighty God guide and protect you including any step you take to remadiate Nigeria. 

 

Long live Nigerian Optometric Association

 

Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria

 

Signed

Damian Echendu ODm LL.B, . Dc., FNDA

National President

 

Adesuwa Agbontaen OD

National Secretary