The wife of Abia Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has commissioned a sight corridor at Abia Line Network park in Umuahia, the state capital to commemorate the 2023 World Sight Day with the theme “Love your eyes”.
Speaking at the unveiling of the sight corridor, she advised Abia line network drivers to always care for their eyes by checking their vision at the sight corridor. According to her, “Beyond the drivers, everyone needs to care for his eyes and with Governor Otti’s commitment towards revamping the health sector, Abia now have one of the best eye facilities in the country”
“However, the theme of this year’s World Sight Day, love your eyes carries a profound message” she said. The Governor’s wife explained that the eye is not just the window to our souls but is also essential tool for productivity, safety, and overall well-being. “As humans, we need to prioritize our eye health, and I invite each and every one of you to take the pledge to love your eyes,” she said.
The Governor’s wife also stressed the importance of safeguarding vision in the workplace adding that the vision corridor would be replicated in 17 LGAs of the state.
Meanwhile, the special adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr. Betty Emeka Obasi, who collaborated with the Optometrists Association of Nigeria, Abia state chapter and other partners to ensure that the vision corridors are erected in strategic places said that Abia state government under Governor Otti is committed to providing quality health care services to Abians. Dr. Betty advised Abia line network drivers to always check their vision as it will help in reducing accidents.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo expressed that this year’s theme resonates deeply especially nowadays when people are losing their sight regularly. “So it is important to raise the vision awareness so that people will become conscious of caring for their eyes. I thank the Abia Governor whose passion for quality health care for Abians has already provided free medical services with about 2,000 glasses”, she expressed.
Also contributing, the chairman Optometrists Association of Abia, Dr. Onyekachi Ogbonna, said that the remarkable thing about the event is the awareness to reduce blindness. Dr. Ogbonna explained that about 7 million Nigerians are blind, “so we are erecting a vision corridor to get people involved in checking their eye status”.
In her remarks, the Acting General Manager, Abia line network, Deaconess. Onyekachi Nwogwugwu said that the presence of the wife of the Governor at the event is a testament to the eloquent testimony of Abia State government’s commitment to the people of Abia. She noted that a driver with poor eyesight is not only a danger to himself but also to passengers he is commuting.
