Pate Seeks Support For Children Eye Security

The federal government has reaffirmed its dedication to promoting eye health, emphasising the crucial role good vision plays in the nation's development and security.

This is as a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Idu, unveiled plans to rally lawmakers and key stakeholders to push for legislation aimed at improving eye care, particularly for children.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, underscored the vital link between good eyesight and overall health, noting that its importance cannot be overstated.

Pate spoke on Saturday at the Children's Sight Marathon, a part of the activities to commemorate the 2024 World Sight Day, organized by the Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria ODORBN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and National Eye Health Programme NEHP, where he emphasized the need to promote and prioritize eye health at a young age.

Speaking on the relevance of the theme of the event, Love Your Eyes, Kids, the Minister, who was represented by the Director of Hospital Services at the Ministry, Olawale Salaudeeen, urged parents and caregivers to prioritize their children's eye health by encouraging good nutrition, regular exercise, and routine eye check-ups.

He said it is everyone's responsibility to spread the message about the significance of eye care, adding, "This kind of exercise can help to detect if there's anything that is wrong with the health of a kid. Just like I said, it's the entry point to all the parts of the body.

"That's why in the New Hope Agenda of the current administration, the issue of the eye is being taken seriously and not to sit down in the city office to do this but get down to the grassroots.

"You can see the primary school students, they are here, the secondary are here. At least there's an enlightenment and a campaign, which means when it comes back to the primary school, they will disseminate the information that it is good to promote your high sight through good meals, good exercise and regular check-ups".

The member representing Onitsha North/Onitsha South Federal Constituency, Idu said the promotion of eye health among children should be prioritized.

He said "Legislative support will also be sought. A potential bill to support eye health initiatives will be crafted in collaboration with leaders, demonstrating the government's commitment to addressing this critical issue.

He also emphasized the need for collective effort, saying, "Effective change cannot be achieved alone, This initiative aligns with the Nigerian National Assembly's response to constituents' demands for development and federal presence".

Similarly, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Bennett Igweh, in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, while explaining the importance of the eye, noted that the primary security human has is the security of the eye.

While speaking further, he said the security of the eye is the primary of all securities, adding that equipment is the secondary aspect of the security.

"It is the security of the eye because it's what you see that matters. What you are able to see with an ordinary eye can be through cameras, but you must see something before you can activate something and before you can say something.

"That's whatever you can do to preserve your eyesight, enabling you to see and ensuring your own security and that of others - your neighbourhood, brothers, sisters, and the nation as a whole. When you see something, you'll be able to say something," he said.

Earlier, ODORBN Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Obinna Edwin-Awiaka said the marathon concept was initiated to introduce healthy exercises to better eyesight.

"The focus is on children. That is why children are here. We want to encourage the children to exercise, come out in the sunlight, and have vitamin D.

"You don't have to be in the air-conditioned car, air-conditioned office and air-conditioned classroom, no, come out and exercise, get a bit of vitamin D.

"We coined this program run to end blindness. This activity is to bring people together to have marathons and short races at the point of doing it, they are exercising and making sure the eyes are healthy".

Encouraging parents and caregivers not to take away the greens from the breakfast table, he said "Give them vegetables, give them fruit, and let them also find ways to exercise their eyes by doing eye exercises. We have what we call the 2020 principle, 2020 rule.

"That means for every 20 minutes they are looking at the computer or their devices, they look away at 20 feet for 20 seconds, that way their eyes will be healthy."