The Administrator of the Abia State Eye Health Management Bureau and Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr. Betty Emeka-Obasi has appealed to optometrists in the state to network and align with the vision behind the establishment of the Bureau.
Dr. Betty made the appeal at the maiden meeting of optometrists in the Abia State Civil Service, themed “The Future of Eye Care in Abia State”.
The Administrator emphasized the need for collaboration to advance eye care services across the state.
She reminded the Optometrists that the Bureau was established by an executive order from the Governor on July 15, 2024, to give dedicated attention to the eye care sector.
According to her, “the Governor, being health-conscious and committed to the well-being of Abians, created the Bureau to ensure affordable, standardized, and accessible eye care services for all”.
Dr. Betty, highlighted the Bureau’s key objectives to includes regulating all eye care practices in the state, upgrading existing eye care facilities and establishing new ones where needed.
Others are standardizing all government eye clinics, creating awareness about eye health and prevalent eye diseases in Abia State.
The Administrator also shared her personal motivation for prioritizing eye health, given her background in the sector.
She recalled visiting Abia State Specialist Hospital and meeting a dilapidated eye clinic with no equipment and idle doctors.
However, under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, the clinic has been revamped with state-of-the-art facilities and modern equipment.
Dr. Betty also highlighted a remarkable improvement in service delivery, noting that patients visit have increased by over 300% accompanied by a significant rise in revenue generation.
The Administrator encouraged optometrists to demonstrate commitment and professionalism, ensuring they report to work daily and give their best for improved service delivery.
She also issued a stern warning against diverting government patients to private clinics, stating that anyone found guilty would face strict sanctions.
Participants at the meeting
Also speaking, the Director of Administration, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Okoroafor Ngozi Uche emphasized punctuality, professionalism, and a positive work ethic, urging doctors to be present at work from Monday to Friday and remain on duty until closing hours.
